Rangoon

RANGOON - The party of the Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said that Western sanctions should be maintained in the country, refuting some analysts' opinion that restrictions hurt common people.

RANGOON - Burma's parliament has elected the country's former Army General Thein Sein as the President, raising fears among political observers that the military establishment that has been running the country for almost a half-century is in no mood to loosen its grip on power.

LONDON/RANGOON - Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be released from house arrest in November, a government minister has told a gathering of local officials, according to two people who attended the meeting.