Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has asked Burma's prime minister to give Rangoon's pro-democracy opposition a role in the country's political process.
Ms. Arroyo said she spoke with Burmese Prime Minister General Soe Win on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Laos.
Ms. Arroyo told the Burmese prime minister that it would be best for Burma if detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy participate in a national convention on drafting a new constitution.
The opposition has refused to take part in the constitutional convention because of the continued house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Information for this report is provided by AFP.