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