Obama says sees "flickers of progress" in Myanmar

US President Barack Obama said today there were "flickers of progress" towards democratic reform in Myanmar and opened the door to a new US relationship with the long-isolated country.

US President Barack Obama said on Friday there were "flickers of progress" towards democratic reform in Myanmar and opened the door to a new US relationship with the long-isolated country.

HT Image

Speaking to reporters in Bali, where he was attending the East Asia Summit, Obama said he was dispatching secretary of state Hillary Clinton to Myanmar, or Burma, next month in response to signs of more openness from its new civilian leaders.

"There is more that needs to be done to pursue the future that the Burmese people deserve," he said, warning the country would "continue to face sanctions and isolation" if steps were not taken towards more democracy and human rights.