Asean demands action from Myanmar

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) bloc is grappling with a host of issues at the two-day talks including bird flu, high oil prices and the rising economic power of China and India.

But Myanmar's refusal to embrace reforms or free Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest has dominated discussions among the group, which won agreement to send an envoy to the isolated military-run state.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who will represent the bloc on a mission to Myanmar "to learn first-hand" whether it is making steps towards democracy, said the region demanded action from the ruling generals.