EU urged to get tough on Myanmar

Brussels: The European Union (EU) should toughen sanctions on Myanmar over its treatment of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who faces trial on charges that could lock her up for five years, the EU foreign policy chief said.

"It's not the moment to lower sanctions, it's the moment in any case to increase them," Javier Solana said ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers. "I don't think there will be any lowering of sanctions, on the contrary," he added.

Suu Kyi faces trial on Monday after Myanmar's military government laid new charges against her from an incident involving US citizen John William Yettaw, who is alleged to have spent two days in her house earlier this month.

The military regime has ignored international outrage at what critics call trumped-up charges against Suu Kyi, accused of breaking the conditions of her house arrest, which had been due to expire on May 27 after six years of detention.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout said EU member states were ready to discuss new sanctions, adding that they had renewed sanctions on the regime in April.

"We are ready to discuss the reinforcement of the sanctions. We will see what will be the level of discussion and the willingness of member states too. We are ready to move forward," Kohout said.

The EU last month extended a visa ban and asset freezes on the Myanmar military government and its backers, citing human rights and democracy concerns. It has long called for the release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt said that Asian nations could exert a stronger influence on Myanmar.

"Our problem with sanctions on Burma [Myanmar] is that we have sanctions on virtually everything."