MPT Western Asset Munici

Salomon Brothers Municipal Partners Fund II Inc. (NYSE: MPT) (the "Fund"), a closed-end investment company, today announced that the Fund has entered into an agreement with George W. Karpus and Karpus Management, Inc. ("KIM") settling a derivative lawsuit against the Fund and its directors in the Supreme Court of the State of New York ("Litigation"). Under the terms of the settlement and subject to certain conditions, the Board of Directors of the Fund, subject to compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, has preliminarily determined to recommend a merger (the "Merger") between the Fund and Salomon Brothers Municipal Partners Fund Inc. ("MNP") to shareholders of the Fund at a meeting of shareholders to be held in or before April 2007. The Merger would be on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors of the Fund deems appropriate, including no material change in circumstances that causes the Board of Directors of the Fund to believe that the Merger is no longer in the best interest of shareholders. The Merger, if approved by the Board of Directors and the shareholders of the Fund and by the Board of Directors and shareholders of MNP, would be completed on, or as soon as practicable after, July 7, 2007. George W. Karpus has agreed to settle the Litigation, subject to notice to Fund shareholders as required by the court and final court approval of the settlement. The summary of the settlement reached by George W. Karpus, KIM and the Fund included in this press release is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the settlement agreement reached by George W. Karpus, KIM and the Fund, which will be filed by the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and will be available for free on the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov. George W. Karpus, KIM and the Fund have agreed not to make any additional public statements relating to the settlements. In connection with the Merger, the Fund may file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN AND IF IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and shareholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement (when and if available) and other documents filed by the Fund at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. The Fund and its Directors, executive officers and other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from its shareholders in connection with the Merger. Information concerning the interests of the Fund's participants in the solicitation is set forth in the Fund's shareholder reports on Form N-CSR previously filed with the SEC and will be set forth in the proxy statement relating to the Merger when and if it becomes available. Note: On December 1, 2005, Citigroup Inc. ("Citigroup") sold substantially all of its worldwide asset management business, Citigroup Asset Management ("CAM"), to Legg Mason, Inc. ("Legg Mason"). As part of this transaction, the investment adviser for the fund(s) referenced herein became a wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason. Under a licensing agreement between Citigroup and Legg Mason, the names of the funds, the names of any classes of shares of funds, and the names of investment advisers of the funds, as well as all logos, trademarks, and service marks related to Citigroup or any of its affiliates ("Citi Marks") are licensed for use by Legg Mason. Citi Marks include, but are not limited to, "Smith Barney," "Salomon Brothers," "Citi," "Citigroup Asset Management," and "Davis Skaggs Investment Management." Legg Mason and its affiliates, as well as the Fund's investment adviser, are not affiliated with Citigroup. All Citi Marks are owned by Citigroup, and are licensed for use until no later than one year after the date of the licensing agreement.