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EU Extends Burmese Sanctions, Calls for International Arms Embargo

29 April 2008

The European Union has extended sanctions against Burma's military government and has called for an international arms embargo.

The 27-member bloc endorsed a one-year extension of political and economic sanctions Tuesday at a meeting in Luxembourg. EU foreign ministers issued a statement warning that the measures could be expanded.

Those sanctions ban EU arms exports to Burma and impose an assets freeze and travel ban on Burmese leaders.

In its statement, the EU also called for the release of all political prisoners, including detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Last week, the United States circulated a revised draft Security Council statement, urging Burma to initiate dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest since 2003.

The non-binding statement also called for the Burmese military government to allow the Nobel Prize laureate and other political figures to fully participate in a constitutional referendum scheduled for May 10.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

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