Asia-Pacific News

UN official to pursue democracy talks in new visit to Myanmar

Aug 15, 2008, 16:53 GMT

New York - UN special envoy for Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari was to leave Friday for a five-day visit to the Southeast Asian nation for talks on improving democracy in the military government there.

'Mr Gambari looks forward to returning to Myanmar to continue his consultations with the government and other relevant parties in the implementation of the good offices entrusted to the Secretary General by the UN General Assembly,' UN spokesman Farhan Haq said.

Gambari will arrive on Monday in Yangon to begin his visit in the country formerly known as Burma.

It will be his fourth visit to the country since last year to try to convince the military government to democratically reform its institutions, embark on national reconciliation and release political prisoners. The government there has so far refused to release Aung San Suu Kyi, head of the main opposition group, the National League for Democracy.