US President Obama hails Burma's 'remarkable journey'

[Gerald]

US President Obama: "The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extinguished"

Burma is on a "remarkable journey" of reform that has much further to go, Barack Obama said as he made the first visit to the South East Asian nation by a serving US president.

A desire for change had been met by an agenda of reform, he said, and he was there to extend a "hand of friendship".

But, in a speech at Rangoon University, he urged Burmese people to accept Muslim Rohingyas after recent violence.

Crowds of people, some waving US flags, lined the streets as he arrived.

The visit was intended to show support for the reforms put in place by Thein Sein's government since the end of military rule in November 2010.

Activists have warned that the visit may be too hasty - political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts in border areas are unresolved.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20386066


Note: 19 November 2012 Last updated at 13:01 GMT