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| US senator meets Burmese leader | US senator meets Burmese leader |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US Senator Jim Webb has held talks with Burmese military ruler Than Shwe, Burmese officials say. | |
| He is the most senior US official to meet the Burmese leader, the Democratic senator's office said in a statement. | |
| Later witnesses said Senator Webb visited pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, days after she was placed under house arrest for 18 more months. | |
| Responding to her conviction, the UN Security Council expressed "serious concern" and the EU extended sanctions. | Responding to her conviction, the UN Security Council expressed "serious concern" and the EU extended sanctions. |
| It is not clear whether Mr Webb will meet American John Yettaw, whose uninvited visit to Ms Suu Kyi's home led to the trial which ended on Tuesday. | It is not clear whether Mr Webb will meet American John Yettaw, whose uninvited visit to Ms Suu Kyi's home led to the trial which ended on Tuesday. |
| Mr Webb was expected to press for Mr Yettaw's release, and AFP news agency quoted a Burmese official as saying he would be deported after the senator's visit. | Mr Webb was expected to press for Mr Yettaw's release, and AFP news agency quoted a Burmese official as saying he would be deported after the senator's visit. |
| 'Watered-down' statement | 'Watered-down' statement |
| Ms Suu Kyi was put on trial in May after Mr Yettaw swam to her lakeside home, evading guards. She was charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest by sheltering Mr Yettaw and after many delays, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in prison. | Ms Suu Kyi was put on trial in May after Mr Yettaw swam to her lakeside home, evading guards. She was charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest by sheltering Mr Yettaw and after many delays, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in prison. |
| Although the sentence was commuted to 18 months house arrest by Than Shwe, it ensures the opposition leader cannot take in planned elections next year. | Although the sentence was commuted to 18 months house arrest by Than Shwe, it ensures the opposition leader cannot take in planned elections next year. |
| Ms Suu Kyi, 64, has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest. | Ms Suu Kyi, 64, has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest. |
| Putting pressure on Burma | Putting pressure on Burma |
| A UN Security Council statement on Thursday expressed "serious concern" at the sentence and urged the release of all political prisoners. | A UN Security Council statement on Thursday expressed "serious concern" at the sentence and urged the release of all political prisoners. |
| Correspondents said the statement was watered down from an original US draft, which "condemned" the verdict and demanded that Burma's military junta free Ms Suu Kyi. | Correspondents said the statement was watered down from an original US draft, which "condemned" the verdict and demanded that Burma's military junta free Ms Suu Kyi. |
| The main reason for the weaker language was China - a powerful permanent member of the council, with close ties to Burma's rulers, says the BBC's Tom Lane at the UN. | The main reason for the weaker language was China - a powerful permanent member of the council, with close ties to Burma's rulers, says the BBC's Tom Lane at the UN. |
| Together with Russia it has blocked strongly-worded condemnations in the past, our correspondent adds. | Together with Russia it has blocked strongly-worded condemnations in the past, our correspondent adds. |
| The US, Britain and France were among countries to condemn the verdict, but Burma's neighbour China said the world should respect Burma's laws. | The US, Britain and France were among countries to condemn the verdict, but Burma's neighbour China said the world should respect Burma's laws. |
| FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| The EU said judges involved in Ms Suu Kyi's sentencing would now join military and government figures in having their overseas assets frozen and travel to the EU banned. | The EU said judges involved in Ms Suu Kyi's sentencing would now join military and government figures in having their overseas assets frozen and travel to the EU banned. |
| Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is the current chairman of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) told the BBC that imposing sanctions could lead to problems and that it was important to take a balanced approach to dealing with Burma. | Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is the current chairman of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) told the BBC that imposing sanctions could lead to problems and that it was important to take a balanced approach to dealing with Burma. |
| President Obama said earlier this year that the US was reviewing its policy towards Burma. | President Obama said earlier this year that the US was reviewing its policy towards Burma. |
| Last month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said increased US engagement with Burma, including investment, might be possible if Ms Suu Kyi were freed. But she also warned that there were concerns over the transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to Burma. | Last month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said increased US engagement with Burma, including investment, might be possible if Ms Suu Kyi were freed. But she also warned that there were concerns over the transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to Burma. |
| Mr Webb chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs. He has called for more "constructive" US engagement with Burma but said in July that the trial of Ms Suu Kyi would make this difficult. | Mr Webb chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs. He has called for more "constructive" US engagement with Burma but said in July that the trial of Ms Suu Kyi would make this difficult. |