Alatas meets Myanmar rulers

Alatas meets Myanmar rulers

MYANMAR: Constitutional talks suspended by Myanmar's military rulers and designed as the first step on the junta's "road map" to democracy, are due to resume by December, a visiting UN envoy said on Saturday.

Former Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas on Friday held a rare meeting with the junta's top five leaders to discuss reforms at the United Nations, and later met organisers of a national convention charged with drafting a new constitution.

Alatas, who wrapped up the last of a three-day visit to impoverished Myanmar, told reporters the meeting with constitutional talks organisers and others with government-backed social groups were added to his agenda by the junta.

"It was quite interesting but I didn't come for this," Alatas said, stressing his mandate was the UN reform process.

He said national convention senior organiser Judge Aung Toe told him the talks -- which the junta suspended in March -- would resume by December.

"All I did was listen to what they have to say," he said. -- AFP