19 September 2012 Last updated at 15:27 ET

Burma's President Thein Sein off US sanctions list

The US Treasury has lifted sanctions against Burma's President Thein Sein and the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Thura Shwe Mann.

The move comes as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is visiting the US.

The US Treasury said Thein Sein and Thura Shwe Mann had been deleted from its list of "Specially Designated Nationals" which sanctions individuals.

Sanctions against Burma have eased since the new government took power in 2011 and started reforms.

Aung San Suu Kyi is meeting President Barack Obama in Washington and receiving the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest US civilian honour.

The medal was awarded to her in 2008, while she was still under house arrest in Burma. This is her first trip to the US in 20 years.

On Tuesday, after a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Aung San Suu Kyi said she supported further easing of sanctions against Burma's military-backed government.

President Thein Sein himself is expected to visit the United States next week when he attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The EU, Australia and other countries have already eased sanctions against Burma.

Softer stance

Aung San Suu Kyi, who was released from house arrest in 2010, has gradually softened her position on sanctions against Burma over the past year.

On Tuesday she made her clearest statement yet on the need to phase-out sanctions to encourage further reforms in Burma.

Her comments followed a warning from Mrs Clinton against Burma "backsliding" if the government did not continue with reforms.

In July, President Obama said that US companies will be allowed to "responsibly do business in Burma".

Thein Sein has urged Western countries to scrap all sanctions against his country.

On Monday state television in Burma reported that more than 500 prisoners, including at least 80 political prisoners, had been granted amnesty.