Rock singer and political activist Bono has told a committee of the United States Senate that he applauds U.S. trade sanctions against the military government in Burma.
The lead singer for the band U2 told committee chair Senator Mitch McConnell that he regrets that the European Union has not done more to encourage democracy in the southeast Asian nation.
He said he was -- in his words -- "deeply ashamed as a European" of what he called "the pitiful lack of support" for pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Bono praised British Prime Minister Tony Blair for the work he has done in pressuring the Burmese government. But he promised Senator McConnell he would personally lobby EU President Romano Prodi on the issue the next time they met.
The Irish rock star made the comments this week before the Senate foreign operations appropriations subcommittee.
President Bush Monday extended U.S. sanctions against Burma for at least one more year for what he called "large-scale repression of the democratic opposition".
Information for this report is provided by AFP.