US signals major policy shift towards Burma

The US state department confirmed yesterday that the new strategy, while keeping sanctions in place, will involve high-level engagement with Burmese leaders, in line with Barack Obama's general policy of talking with countries it regards as international pariahs.

Obama, in contrast with George Bush's administration, has already offered to hold direct talks with Iran and North Korea.

The shift was signalled on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York last night when the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, said she will move "in the direction of both engagement and continued sanctions".

Speaking at a Friends of Burma meeting, she said: "Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice in our opinion. Going forward we will be employing both of those tools."

The US is pushing for the introduction of democracy and the release of the opposition leader and Nobel Peace prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi.