Myanmar's ruling generals are set to meet the first member of the US congress to visit the country in more than a decade.
- Jim Webb, a Democratic senator who represents the state of Virginia, arrived in the South Asian nation on Friday and was due to meet Senior General Than Shwe, head of Myanmar's army and the country's leader.
- It would be the first time a senior US official has met Myanmar's highest leader.
- Officials said Webb flew into Naypyidaw, the country's administrative capital, from neighbouring Laos, where he launched on Thursday a two-week tour of Southeast Asia.
- Webb, who is close to President Barack Obama, called in March for direct talks between the US and Myanmar.
- But last month, he said the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's detained opposition leader, made it difficult for Washington to pursue "meaningful relations" with Myanmar.
- The visit follows the conviction earlier this week of Suu Kyi and her sentencing to another 18 months of house arrest.
- A US national, John Yettaw, who triggered the trial when he swam to her lakeside home in Yangon, was sentenced to seven years of hard labour and imprisonment.
- The convictions have been widely criticised around the world, particularly by the US government, and are likely to be raised by Webb in his talks with Myanmar officials.
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