Myanmar detained a prominent Buddhist monk for questioning on Friday, less than month since he was freed from jail where he was sent for leading an anti-government uprising, an official said.

Gambira was one of hundreds of political prisoners released in January, cutting short a 68-year jail term imposed for his key role in the 2007 "Saffron Revolution", which was brutally crushed by the former junta.

Since he was freed, Gambira has breached regulations by breaking into monasteries that were closed by the government following the mass monk-led demonstrations, the government official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"He was taken this morning from his monastery for questioning because he broke the locks of three monasteries since his release," the official said, adding that he was taken in Yangon in the early hours of the morning.

The government's release of about 500 political prisoners since October has been hailed by Western countries, which have long demanded the freeing of such detainees before they would consider lifting sanctions.

The quasi-civilian government, which came to power in March last year after almost half a century of outright military rule, has impressed observers with its apparent desire to reform and open up to the outside world.

The 2007 protests that landed Gambira in jail began as small rallies against the rising cost of living but escalated into huge anti-government demonstrations led by crowds of monks.

They posed the biggest challenge to military rule in nearly two decades, leading to a bloody crackdown by the authorities. At least 31 people were killed by security forces while hundreds were beaten and detained.