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| US to ease sanctions against Burma | US to ease sanctions against Burma |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The United States has announced that it will ease some sanctions against Burma. | The United States has announced that it will ease some sanctions against Burma. |
| Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said some travel and financial restrictions would be relaxed, with Burmese leaders allowed to visit the US. | Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said some travel and financial restrictions would be relaxed, with Burmese leaders allowed to visit the US. |
| European Union leaders had said earlier on Wednesday that they would consider taking similar steps. | |
| The news follows by-elections in Burma on Sunday in which an opposition party headed by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi took the majority of the seats. | The news follows by-elections in Burma on Sunday in which an opposition party headed by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi took the majority of the seats. |
| The National League for Democracy (NLD) took 40 out of 45 seats in the polls, which were generally deemed to be free and fair. | |
| In response to Burma's democratic reforms, Ms Clinton said the US would take steps to open an office of the Agency for International Development in the country and send a full ambassador. | In response to Burma's democratic reforms, Ms Clinton said the US would take steps to open an office of the Agency for International Development in the country and send a full ambassador. |
| Political prisoners | |
| At a summit of the regional Asean grouping on Wednesday, Asian leaders called for all sanctions against Burma to be lifted immediately to help the country's political and economic development. | At a summit of the regional Asean grouping on Wednesday, Asian leaders called for all sanctions against Burma to be lifted immediately to help the country's political and economic development. |
| Speaking in London, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said EU members would probably be willing to lift some of their sanctions on Burma. | |
| "That does not mean an instant and complete opening up of trade with Burma," he added. | |
| Mr Hague said he would keep up pressure on Burma to free political prisoners. | |
| Although the NLD won a landslide victory in Sunday's polls, the result barely makes a dent in the ruling military's dominance of parliament. | |
| The army and its proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) still hold about 80% of seats in parliament. |