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7 December 2010
Last updated at 02:11 ET
A senior US official is visiting Burma to assess prospects for change following a widely criticised election and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Joseph Yun, the US deputy assistant secretary of state, is to meet senior government officials and "representatives of political parties".
It is the first US visit to Burma since an election on 7 November.
Analysts say the West's sanctions against Burma may be reviewed following the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The pro-democracy leader, who was freed from house arrest last month, has said she will listen to the people's views before recommending any change to sanctions.
Mr Yun is expected to hold talks with Aung San Suu Kyi.
'Small changes' The US Embassy said Mr Yun was in Rangoon on a four-day trip.
He will urge the authorities to "improve their human rights records, release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally and begin genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and pro-democracy and ethnic leaders to work towards national reconciliation," a state department spokesman said.
Continue reading the main story Analysis
Joseph Yun's trip is unlikely to break new ground. But it will be a first chance for a senior American diplomat to test the political temperature after November's election.
The poll has been widely criticised, not least by US President Barack Obama, who accused the military government of rigging the outcome.
Mr Yun is expected to repeat earlier demands for the release of all political prisoners and for a genuine dialogue with all parties including Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of Burma's many ethnic minorities.
The UN made a similar call following the recent visit of its special envoy to Burma.
But despite the recent flurry of diplomatic activity, the ruling generals have shown no sign of bowing to outside pressure.
The recent release of Aung San Suu Kyi may be as far as they are prepared to go.
"He will also review US government humanitarian assistance to the Burmese people," the official added.
Mr Yun's trip follows a visit last week to Burma by United Nations envoy Vijay Nambiar.
He told the BBC it was clear that political change was taking place, despite strong criticism by the UN that Burma's poll was neither free nor fair.
In a statement, the UN said that in order for any political transition to succeed, it was imperative that those who did not or could not participate in the elections be included along with those who won seats in the new national and regional parliaments.
The election on 7 November - the first to be held in Burma in 20 years - was won by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
Six days later, Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest. Her now-disbanded National League for Democracy (NLD) won the last election in 1990, but was never allowed to take power.
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Joseph Yun, the US deputy assistant secretary of state, is to meet senior government officials and "representatives of political parties".
It is the first US visit to Burma since an election on 7 November.
Analysts say the West's sanctions against Burma may be reviewed following the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The pro-democracy leader, who was freed from house arrest last month, has said she will listen to the people's views before recommending any change to sanctions.
Mr Yun is expected to hold talks with Aung San Suu Kyi.
'Small changes' The US Embassy said Mr Yun was in Rangoon on a four-day trip.
He will urge the authorities to "improve their human rights records, release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally and begin genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and pro-democracy and ethnic leaders to work towards national reconciliation," a state department spokesman said.
Continue reading the main story Analysis
Joseph Yun's trip is unlikely to break new ground. But it will be a first chance for a senior American diplomat to test the political temperature after November's election.
The poll has been widely criticised, not least by US President Barack Obama, who accused the military government of rigging the outcome.
Mr Yun is expected to repeat earlier demands for the release of all political prisoners and for a genuine dialogue with all parties including Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of Burma's many ethnic minorities.
The UN made a similar call following the recent visit of its special envoy to Burma.
But despite the recent flurry of diplomatic activity, the ruling generals have shown no sign of bowing to outside pressure.
The recent release of Aung San Suu Kyi may be as far as they are prepared to go.
"He will also review US government humanitarian assistance to the Burmese people," the official added.
Mr Yun's trip follows a visit last week to Burma by United Nations envoy Vijay Nambiar.
He told the BBC it was clear that political change was taking place, despite strong criticism by the UN that Burma's poll was neither free nor fair.
In a statement, the UN said that in order for any political transition to succeed, it was imperative that those who did not or could not participate in the elections be included along with those who won seats in the new national and regional parliaments.
The election on 7 November - the first to be held in Burma in 20 years - was won by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
Six days later, Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest. Her now-disbanded National League for Democracy (NLD) won the last election in 1990, but was never allowed to take power.
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