A Burmese rebel group says its leaders have opened peace talks in Rangoon with Burmese government officials.
A spokesman for the rebel Karen National Union said the group hopes the talks will lead to a ceasefire in the 50-year Karen battle for autonomy. The Karen delegation is led by the group's military commander, Bo Mya.
Reports say the Burmese government hopes to reach ceasefires with the country's ethnic rebel groups before a national onvention this year to draft a new constitution. The constitutional convention is part of the government's "road map" to emocracy for Burma.
Information for this report is provided by AFP.