The European Union has extended its sanctions against Burma for another year, on the grounds of what it calls the nation's "serious violations of human rights."
EU foreign ministers announced the extension in a written statement today in Luxembourg.
The sanctions include a ban on travel to Europe for top government officials and EU companies or organizations are not allowed to invest in Burma.
Burma's military has ruled the country since 1962 and ignored a 1990 landslide election victory by the party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Since then Aung San Suu Kyi has been in jail or under house arrest.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.