ASEAN committed to democracy in Myanmar: Rice

The US Secretary of State said that Southeast Asian nations had made "an important evolution" in dealing with Myanmar's junta.

The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday that Southeast Asian nations had made "an important evolution" in dealing with Myanmar's junta and called for the quick release of dissident Aun San Suu Kyi.

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"The statement like the one ASEAN has made on Burma is an important evolution of the ASEAN position," Rice said, referring to Myanmar by its other name.

"Members of ASEAN have spoken quite clearly about the need for the junta to make political reform and that Aung San Suu Kyi should be released, and released unconditionally," she said.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, comprises 10 countries, including Myanmar.