Annan convenes meeting to press Myanmar

Annan convenes meeting to press Myanmar

UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan met
with representatives of a dozen nations here on Wednesday to seek
ways of pressing Myanmar's military regime, in power for more
than four decades, to move toward democracy.

Officials from the World Bank and UN Development Program also
attended the meeting, called on the sidelines of the UN General
Assembly where Myanmar earlier vigorously defended the regime's
record on human rights.

"We will use the individual influence of each of the countries
to see how they can help move the process forward," Annan told
reporters after the session. He said the goal was to "encourage"
the government.

"The member states who came in here are all concerned about
the issue," Annan said.

Myanmar has defended its human rights record in the face of
international pressure to release prodemocracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi, but an exiled opposition member warned that abuses
"continue unabated".

"Allegations of human rights violations in Myanmar are aimed
at discrediting the government for political purposes,"
Government Minister U Tin Winn said, although he did not mention
Suu Kyi or her movement in his speech. --Agencies