(18 Jan 2001) English/Nat
XFA
The United States government has welcomed news that opposition and government leaders in Myanmar are holding discussions.
The news comes as the European Union is preparing to send a fact-finding team to the Southeast Asian country.
Sweden currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency and a Swedish official will lead the four-member team which expects to meet with Aung Sang Suu Kyi, other members of her National League for Democracy party, Foreign Minister Win Aung and the number three leader in the junta, Khin Nyunt.
U-S Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright recognised the meetings as a good sign ... but warned that there must be progression on human rights in the country.
Myanmar's junta refuses to recognize the results of the 1990 general elections won overwhelmingly by the National League for Democracy.
In the last decade, the generals have imprisoned scores of NLD members and kept Suu Kyi under long periods of house arrest. She has been restricted to her house since Sept. 22.
But after a visit to Myanmar, United Nations special envoy Razali Ismail announced this month that the junta has been holding secret reconciliation talks with Suu Kyi.
Also at the U-S State Department, spokesman Richard Boucher Thursday confirmed reports that the leader of Congo, Laurent Kabila had died in a violent attack.
Boucher's comments came just before Congolese authorities confirmed that President Laurent Kabila has died of wounds suffered when he was gunned down at his palace.
In a statement broadcast on state-run television, Communications Minister Dominique Sakombi says the country is in mourning.
Until this morning, the government had been insisting Kabila was still alive after the shooting on Tuesday.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It remains for the Congolese govt to make any announcement formally on his status. We understand that they will make an announcement shortly. We also understand from a variety of credible reports that president Kabila has died and that his body is currently in Harare. Obviously we condemn the violent killing of Kabila just as we condemn this kind of violence anywhere. Yesterday there was an announcement from the Congolese govt that General Joseph Kabila, the president's son, was appointed the interim leader. We would urge all parties in this situation including the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the rebels and external belligerents to redouble their commitment to implementing fully the Lusaka agreement and we continue to believe that the Lusaka agreement remains the most viable means of achieving a just and last peace in the region."
SUPER CAPTION: Richard Boucher, State Department spokesman
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