US, UN hopeful on visits to Myanmar

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YANGON, Nov 5 (AFP): Senior US and UN officials said they were encouraged by nascent reforms in Myanmar, with Washington saying it will look at new incentives to spur change including the expansion of microfinance. In a first, Myanmar allowed in the US assistant secretary of state handling human rights, Mike Posner, who said he voiced concern about the treatment of ethnic minorities and political prisoners but also saw signs of progress. "There are some encouraging steps and signs. We need to go forward in a way that recognises what's been done and what's being done that is positive, and build on that," Posner said at the US embassy Friday.