Bush renews Myanmar sanctions

Myanmar's military junta has been accused of serious human rights abuses, such as jailing the country's opposition leaders, particularly democracy icon and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Their latest crackdown on ethnic minorities, targeting mainly the Karens, has been condemned by rights groups, who say it is the most serious offensive since 1997.

"Because the actions and policies of the government of Burma (Myanmar) continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, the national emergency ... and the measures adopted ... with that emergency must continue in effect beyond May 20, 2006," Bush said in a statement.

The US sanctions date to May 1997 and were stiffened by Bush in July 2003.

They prohibit new investments and exports of financial services to and imports from Myanmar. The United States has also frozen Myanmar junta members' assets in the United States and has broadened denial of visas to regime officials.