Burma's military government says it is being unjustly accused of recruiting child soldiers into its armed forces.
Lieutenant General Thein Sein was quoted by official media as saying saboteurs at home and abroad who are trying to discredit the government are trying to raise the matter at the United Nations.
Thein Sein told a meeting of the Prevention of Recruitment of Minors for the Armed Forces that the accusations continue despite the enactment of a law stipulating that only those who have reached the age of 18 could be recruited.
Last year, New York-based Human Rights Watch said 20 percent or more of Burma's soldiers were under the age of 18 -- some as young as 11.
Information for this report is provided by AP.
