US Says Myanmar Junta Obstructing Negotiations on New Constitution

Source: International Herald Tribune

The United States accused Myanmar's rulers on Tuesday of standing in the way of moving toward democracy in that Southeast Asian country by denying Aung San Suu Kyi and other opposition leaders the right to help draft a national constitution.

In a prepared statement, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said Suu Kyi made clear in a Nov. 8 statement from house arrest that she was "committed to meaningful and time-bound talks" with Senior Gen. Than Shwe and his junta under sponsorship of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "It is Than Shwe and his senior generals who are obstructing progress toward democratization in Burma," Casey said, using another name for the Asian nation.

For the full report, please follow this link: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/04/america/NA-GEN-US-Myamar.php