This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20386066

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
US President Obama in landmark Burma visit US President Obama hails Burma's 'remarkable journey'
(about 1 hour later)
US President Barack Obama is making a historic visit to Burma, the first by a sitting US president. Burma is on a "remarkable journey" of reform that has further to go, Barack Obama said as he made the first visit to the South East Asian nation by a serving US president.
Crowds of people, some waving US flags, lined the streets of Rangoon as he drove to meet President Thein Sein. A desire for change had been met by an agenda of reform, he said, in a speech at Rangoon University.
He said his goal was to "sustain the momentum for democratisation", pledging stronger ties if reforms continued. So, as promised in his inaugural address in 2009, he was here to extend the hand of friendship.
Critics warn the visit could be too early in the reform process, but on Monday reports suggested several dozen political prisoners were to be freed. Crowds of people, some waving US flags, lined the streets as he arrived.
Mr Obama's visit is intended to show support for the reforms put in place by Thein Sein's government since the end of military rule in November 2010. The visit is intended to show support for the reforms put in place by Thein Sein's government since the end of military rule in November 2010.
Activists have cautioned that political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts in border areas are unresolved. Activists have cautioned that the visit may be too hasty - political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts in border areas are unresolved.
A prisoner amnesty last week is not thought to have included any of the 280-330 political detainees that rights groups say are imprisoned. But another amnesty was subsequently announced, with about two-thirds of the 66 prisoners to be freed reportedly political detainees. On Monday another prisoner amnesty was announced, with about two-thirds of the 66 inmates to be freed reportedly political detainees.
'Long journey''Long journey'
Mr Obama touched down in Rangoon in Air Force One on Monday morning after a short flight from Thailand. He is spending some six hours in the country but will not visit the capital, Nay Pyi Taw. Mr Obama is spending some six hours in Burma but will not visit the capital, Nay Pyi Taw.
Instead his time is being spent in Burma's commercial capital where, as well as meeting top leaders, he will also address students at a university at the heart of pro-democracy protests in 1988 that were violently suppressed by the regime. The highlight of his visit was a speech at Rangoon University, which was at the heart of pro-democracy protests in 1988 that were violently suppressed by the military regime.
Mr Obama is also expected to announce an aid pledge worth $170m (£107m). Addressing students, he said America would help to rebuild Burma's economy and could be a partner on its journey forward.
Addressing journalists after his meeting with Thein Sein, Mr Obama said he recognised that the country was taking "just the first steps on what will be a very long journey". "But this remarkable journey has just begun, and has much further to go," he said.
"But we think a process of democratic and economic reform here in Myanmar [Burma] that has been begun by the president is one that can lead to incredible development opportunities," he said. "Reforms launched from the top of society must meet the aspirations of citizens who form its foundation. The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extinguished," he said.
Thein Sein said the two sides had reached agreements "for development of democracy in Myanmar and for promoting of human rights to be of international standard". The two sides would continue to work together to develop education and healthcare services, he said. He also called for an end to communal violence between Muslims and Buddhists in Rakhine state that has left more than 100,000 people - mostly Muslim Rohingyas - displaced.
Mr Obama went on from that meeting to talks with Ms Suu Kyi at the lakeside home where she spent many years under house arrest. "National reconciliation will take time, but for the sake of our common humanity, and for the sake of this country's future, it is necessary to stop the incitement and to stop violence," he added.
Earlier Mr Obama met Thein Sein and then pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, at the lakeside home where she spent years under house arrest.
The pro-democracy leader thanked the US for its support but warned that difficult times could lie ahead.The pro-democracy leader thanked the US for its support but warned that difficult times could lie ahead.
"I say difficult because the most difficult time in any transition is when we think that success is in sight," she said. "The most difficult time in any transition is when we think that success is in sight," she said, saying people should not be "lured by a mirage of success".
"Then, we have to be very careful that we are not lured by a mirage of success and that we are working towards genuine success for our people."
The US president and his team also made a brief stop at Shwedagon Pagoda, the Rangoon landmark that has been at the heart of many key moments in the country's history.The US president and his team also made a brief stop at Shwedagon Pagoda, the Rangoon landmark that has been at the heart of many key moments in the country's history.
Mr Obama is being accompanied by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - who returns to Burma almost a year after her first visit.Mr Obama is being accompanied by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - who returns to Burma almost a year after her first visit.
'No illusions''No illusions'
Thein Sein's government came to power after widely-criticised polls in November 2010 that saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government.Thein Sein's government came to power after widely-criticised polls in November 2010 that saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government.
Since then - to the surprise of many - his administration has embarked on a reform process. Many - but not all - political prisoners have been freed, censorship has been relaxed and some economic reforms enacted.Since then - to the surprise of many - his administration has embarked on a reform process. Many - but not all - political prisoners have been freed, censorship has been relaxed and some economic reforms enacted.
Ms Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest shortly after the polls. Her NLD party, which boycotted the elections, has since rejoined the political process. It now has a small presence in parliament, after a landslide win in by-elections deemed generally free and fair in April.Ms Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest shortly after the polls. Her NLD party, which boycotted the elections, has since rejoined the political process. It now has a small presence in parliament, after a landslide win in by-elections deemed generally free and fair in April.
In response, many Western nations have relaxed sanctions against Burma and begun a process of engagement.In response, many Western nations have relaxed sanctions against Burma and begun a process of engagement.
But rights groups have cautioned against a rush to embrace the South East Asian nation, warning that political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts are unresolved.But rights groups have cautioned against a rush to embrace the South East Asian nation, warning that political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts are unresolved.
In recent months, bitter communal violence between Muslims and Buddhists in Rakhine state has left more than 100,000 people - mostly Muslim Rohingyas - displaced.
Mr Obama has stressed that his visit is not an unqualified endorsement of the Burmese government.Mr Obama has stressed that his visit is not an unqualified endorsement of the Burmese government.
"I don't think anybody is under any illusion that Burma's arrived, that they're where they need to be," he said in Bangkok on Sunday."I don't think anybody is under any illusion that Burma's arrived, that they're where they need to be," he said in Bangkok on Sunday.
"On the other hand, if we waited to engage until they had achieved a perfect democracy, my suspicion is we'd be waiting an awful long time," he added."On the other hand, if we waited to engage until they had achieved a perfect democracy, my suspicion is we'd be waiting an awful long time," he added.
After visiting Burma, Mr Obama will head to Cambodia to join a meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations, in a trip that underlines the shift in US foreign policy focus to the Asia-Pacific region.After visiting Burma, Mr Obama will head to Cambodia to join a meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations, in a trip that underlines the shift in US foreign policy focus to the Asia-Pacific region.