36. Junta Softening?

The Military Junta has to date appointed a 54 member committee to draft a new constitution for the country leading eventually to elections.

This is the latest of a series of measures announced by the junta for reforms and a return to democracy.

The other is the appointment of a minister to start negotiations with Aung San Suu Kyi.

In a move seen as being more amiable to world opinion, the junta have agreed to bring forward to early November a return visit by UN mediator Ibrahim Gambari.

This comes a few days after they agreed to the visit of a top UN human rights official to their country.

Earlier President Bush urged India and China to step up pressure to stop repression against pro-democracy activists and to suspend Arms and Energy sales to the Junta.

He announced the freezing of the US assets of 25 junta leaders and targeting another 12.

US lawmakers have also sanctioned oil-giant Chevron to pull out from Myanmar.

The Myanmar government has accused the US of training monks to stage anti-government protests.

United Nations is meanwhile pressuring the regime to open talks with Aung San Suu Kyi.

Its envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, is travelling through Asia urging a carrot-and-stick approach. He says the regime should also be offered incentives to reform.

Read report here.