Ban on a mission to Myanmar

The Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, is in Myanmar to try and persuade its military leaders to release political prisoners and follow the path to democracy.

Ban has admitted the two-day trip would be “a very difficult mission.”

He is half way through his five-year mandate as head of the UN and faces criticism that his discreet style of diplomacy is ineffective. The chances are slim of him succeeding in winning round a military junta that has been in power for nearly 50 years.

But after talks with Burmese leader Than Shwe on Friday, Ban has earned himself a second meeting on Saturday.

Ban has asked to see democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi, who is awaiting trial for breaching the terms of her house arrest, but authorities are yet to give him their permission.

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tags: Aung San Suu Kyi, Ban Ki-Moon, Myanmar