Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has expressed concern about the absence of the main opposition party from constitutional talks in Burma, but he says Thailand will not punish Rangoon with trade sanctions.
Mr. Thaksin met in Bangkok Friday with Burmese Prime Minister Khin Nyunt who was on a one-day visit.
The opposition National League for Democracy has refused to participate in Burma's constitutional talks because its leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo are under house arrest. Mr. Thaksin told reporters he discussed the situation with Khin Nyunt, and expressed concern about Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi's continued detention.
He said his Burmese counterpart told him the Nobel laureate will be released at the appropriate time.
Mr. Thaksin said Thailand is not planning to punish Burma with trade sanctions if Rangoon refuses to free the NLD leaders from detention. They have been held for more than a year after a confrontation between opposition and pro-government demonstrators in northern Burma.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.