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| Burma President Thein Sein meets Karen rebels | Burma President Thein Sein meets Karen rebels |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Karen rebels fighting the government in Burma have confirmed to the BBC that their leaders have met Burma's President Thein Sein. | Karen rebels fighting the government in Burma have confirmed to the BBC that their leaders have met Burma's President Thein Sein. |
| It is the first such meeting between the two sides in one of the world's longest running civil conflicts. | It is the first such meeting between the two sides in one of the world's longest running civil conflicts. |
| Karen rebels have been fighting for independence for more than 60 years. | Karen rebels have been fighting for independence for more than 60 years. |
| Western countries who have imposed sanctions on Burma have pressed the military-backed civilian government to end their various ethnic conflicts. | |
| Last month, one of the leaders of the Karen rebel group was released by the Burmese authorities, days after being given a 20-year sentence for treason. | Last month, one of the leaders of the Karen rebel group was released by the Burmese authorities, days after being given a 20-year sentence for treason. |
| A spokeswoman for the Karen National Union (KNU) rebels described the talks as "warm and pleasant". | |
| BBC South-East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says these latest talks are part of a major push by the Burmese authorities to make deals with the various separatist groups in the country. | |
| They have already signed a number of provisional ceasefires. | They have already signed a number of provisional ceasefires. |
| Thousands of people have been displaced by decades of sporadic fighting between the two sides, many being housed in refugee camps across the border in Thailand. | Thousands of people have been displaced by decades of sporadic fighting between the two sides, many being housed in refugee camps across the border in Thailand. |
| After decades of brutal military rule, the generals handed over to a civilian-led administration under Thein Sein in March 2011. | |
| The new government has made several political reforms - last month a number of by-elections were held, one of which returned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to parliament. |