The U.S. Senate has condemned Burma's government for its continued detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.
Senators demanded in a non-binding resolution Friday that Burma's military government immediately release the Nobel laureate.
The resolution's sponsor and the leader of the Republican minority, Senator Mitch McConnell, said the passage of the resolution reflects the Senate's grave concern about the deteriorating situation in Burma.
He said senators are committed to keeping the pressure on what he described as Burma's "dictatorial regime," and continuing to promote democracy and reconciliation in Burma.
Aung San Suu Kyi has spent most of the past 17 years under detention or house arrest.
Her party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide victory in 1990 elections. But Burma's military government has refused to recognize the results and has prevented the party from taking office.
The United Nations estimates there are 11,00 political prisoners in Burma.
Information for this report is provided by AP.
