SINGAPORE, Oct 22, 2007 (AFP) - Tay Za, the tycoon behind three Singapore-linked firms placed under fresh US sanctions against Myanmar, is a charismatic close associate of the ruling junta, observers say.

Tay Za's Htoo Trading Co Ltd, which exports teak logs, was Myanmar's fifth-top exporter, earning 65.1 million US dollars in the fiscal year ended in March, according to the Myanmar Times, a semi-official weekly.

YANGON, Oct 21, 2007 (AFP) - Myanmar's junta on Sunday demanded detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi drop her support for sanctions on the country, one of conditions set by the regime for talks with the opposition leader.

'As the government has made the official offer, it's your turn now,' the official New Light of Myanmar daily said in a commentary.

'No dialogue can achieve success without sacrifices and concessions. Aunty Suu, you should understand the nature of giving up something for achieving another that is ten times (more) valuable and beneficial,' it said.

SINGAPORE, Oct 20, 2007 (AFP) - Three companies with strong links to Singapore are among seven companies blacklisted by the United States under fresh sanctions against Myanmar after its deadly suppression of pro-democracy protests.

According to President George W. Bush's order the companies which are either based in or linked to Singapore are: Pavo Trading Pte Ltd, Air Bagan Holdings Pte Ltd and Htoo Wood Products Pte Ltd, which is also listed as being from Yangon.

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - New sanctions announced by US President George W. Bush against the Myanmar regime target 11 additional senior officials in the military junta as well as seven state-controlled companies, the Treasury Department said on Friday.

'The President has made clear that Burmese officials will be held to account for the violent oppression of their people,' said Adam Szubin, director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, referring to the country's previous name.

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush announced tighter US sanctions on Myanmar's military rulers Friday and urged China and India to step up pressure on the junta to end repression of pro-democracy activists.

'Burma's rulers continue to defy the world's just demand to stop their vicious persecution,' he said in a brief statement at the White House, using Myanmar's former name. 'Business as usual is unacceptable.'

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush announced tighter US sanctions on Myanmar's military rulers Friday and urged China and India to step up pressure on the junta to end a crackdown on pro-democracy activists.

'Burma's rulers continue to defy the world's just demand to stop their vicious persecution,' he said in a brief statement at the White House, using Myanmar's former name. 'Business as usual is unacceptable.'

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush on Friday urged China and India to do more to put pressure on Myanmar's military rulers in an effort to end repression of pro-democracy advocates there.

'I ask other counties to review their own laws and policies, especially Burma's closest neighbors, China, India, and others in the region,' Bush said in a statement at the White House.

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Friday was to widen economic sanctions on Myanmar's military rulers, piling on pressure for a transition to democracy after a bloody crackdown on anti-junta protests.

The White House said Bush would make the announcement at 1:50 pm (1750 GMT), just weeks after the United States slapped a visa ban on key junta members and their families and froze their assets in the United States.

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush was Friday to announce new sanctions against the Myanmar junta, the White House said.

The United States earlier this month already slapped new sanctions on Myanmar's leaders after a brutal crackdown by the military regime on days of pro-democracy protests left 13 dead.

WASHINGTON, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - The United States on Wednesday proposed more sanctions against military-ruled Myanmar Wednesday, including blocking critical access to US financial institutions via third countries.

Other measures unveiled in the US House of Representatives were intended to stop the import of Myanmar gemstones through third countries and tighten a freeze of assets on its political and military leaders.

WASHINGTON, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - The United States on Wednesday sought UN Security Council intervention in case Myanmar's military rulers rebuff plans by a UN special envoy to push for democratic rule in the Southeast Asian state.

Washington also called for global pressure on Myanmar to allow the swift return of special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to pave the way for a dialogue between the military junta and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic minorities.

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - European Union foreign ministers on Monday approved new sanctions against the Myanmar regime, including an embargo on the export of wood, gems and metals.

'In view of the seriousness of the current situation and in solidarity with the people of Myanmar, the EU deems it necessary to increase direct pressure on the regime through stronger measures,' the ministers said in a joint statement.

The EU already has broad sanctions in place against Myanmar's leadership and their families -- with 375 people on a visa-ban, asset-freeze list.

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - The European Union on Monday eased sanctions against Uzbekistan which were imposed after it rejected demands for an international probe into a deadly uprising in Andijan province in 2005.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg agreed to renew for 12 months an arms embargo but suspend visa restrictions in place against some Uzbek officials for six months.

The restrictions could be reapplied if the Uzbek authorities fail to make progress on human rights, the ministers agreed in a joint statement.

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - EU foreign ministers on Monday approved new sanctions against the Myanmar regime, including an embargo on the export of wood, gems and metals.

The list covered by the sanctions could yet change depending on the outcome of a regional tour by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who demanded earlier Monday that Myanmar's ruling junta stop arresting pro-democracy activists.,

The EU already has broad sanctions in place against Myanmar's leadership and their families -- with 375 people on a visa-ban, asset-freeze list.

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - European foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday were set to beef up the EU's sanctions against Myanmar, introducing an embargo on timber, gems and metals.

'In view of the seriousness of the current situation and in solidarity with the people of Burma/Myanmar, the EU deems it necessary to increase direct pressure on the regime through stronger measures,' said the ministers' draft agreement.

BRUSSELS, Oct 12, 2007 (AFP) - The European Union is set to beef up its sanctions against Myanmar next week by introducing an embargo on timber, gems and metals, according to a draft text agreed Friday.

EU foreign ministers could approve the import bans -- which would notably affect Myanmar's teak and jade trade -- when they meet in Luxembourg on Monday.

BRUSSELS, Oct 12, 2007 (AFP) - The European Union on Monday could ease sanctions against Uzbekistan which were imposed after it rejected demands for an international probe into a deadly uprising in Andijan province in 2005.

According to a working document seen by AFP on Friday, EU foreign ministers would renew for 12 months an arms embargo but temporarily suspend visa restrictions in place against certain Uzbek officials.

TOKYO, Oct 9, 2007 (AFP) - Japan extended sanctions Tuesday against North Korea by another six months to mid-April to keep up the pressure on Pyongyang over its abductions of Japanese nationals, government officials said.

The decision was made at a cabinet meeting, an official said, on the first anniversary of the North's first ever atomic weapons test.

'Marking this occasion, we want to renew our demand that North Korea take concrete action towards the resolution of the relevant issues,' Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told a news conference.

TOKYO, Oct 9, 2007 (AFP) - Japan extended sanctions Tuesday against North Korea by another six months to mid-April to keep up the pressure on Pyongyang over its abductions of Japanese nationals, government officials said.

The decision was made at a cabinet meeting, an official said, on the first anniversary of the North's first ever atomic weapons test.

'Marking this occasion, we want to renew our demand that North Korea take concrete action towards the resolution of the relevant issues,' Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told a news conference.

TOKYO, Oct 9, 2007 (AFP) - Japan extended sanctions Tuesday against North Korea by another six months to mid-April to keep up the pressure on Pyongyang over its abductions of Japanese nationals, government officials said.

The decision was made at a cabinet meeting, an official said, on the first anniversary of the North's first ever atomic weapons test.

The sanctions will cover the period from October 14 to April 13, according to a foreign ministry official in charge of Northeast Asian affairs.

COPENHAGEN, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - Denmark will seek a European Union ban on imports of timber, minerals and precious stones from Myanmar and on investments in the Myanmar Oil company, Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller said on Friday.

'We want to see the toughest sanctions possible against the junta. But we do not want them to affect the Myanmar people,' he told Danish news agency Ritzau.

Myanmar's military rulers last week crushed massive anti-government demonstrations in Yangon led by Buddhist monks.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - The United States is prepared to introduce a sanctions resolution against Myanmar's military regime if it fails to cooperate with UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, its ambassador to the UN warned here Friday.

'If the Burmese regime does not respond constructively to the demands of the international community in a timely manner, the United States is prepared to introduce a resolution in the Security Council imposing sanctions,' Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told the council.

BRUSSELS, Oct 4, 2007 (AFP) - Italy, Germany and France would have to pay the heaviest price for any European Union sanctions against Iran, at a time when the Islamic republic is already turning more toward Asia for its business.

The 27 EU nations' commerce with Iran stood at 37 percent of the Islamic republic's total foreign trade from March 2006 to March 2007, according to a document from the economics department of France's embassy in Tehran.

BRUSSELS, Oct 4, 2007 (AFP) - The EU, under pressure from France, will debate on October 15 whether to slap new sanctions on Iran but the talks will be tough, with Germany and Italy reluctant to act outside the United Nations.

With moves for tougher sanctions held up at the UN Security Council until November, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has urged his EU partners to take independent measures to pressure Iran to end its 'nuclear defiance.'

BRUSSELS, Oct 3, 2007 (AFP) - The European Union agreed in principle Wednesday to toughen sanctions against the regime in Myanmar, the EU's Portuguese presidency said.

EU ambassadors 'agreed to toughen EU sanctions against the regime in Myanmar, and requested that all preparatory steps be undertaken with a view to the necessary decisions to be taken (by EU foreign ministers) on 15 October,' a statement said.

SINGAPORE, Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - Myanmar's neighbours have little influence over internal developments there, Singapore's foreign minister said in remarks published Tuesday.

George Yeo's comments came in an interview with The Straits Times after the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last week expressed their 'revulsion' at Myanmar's deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Singapore is the current chair of ASEAN.

BANGKOK, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - The latest US sanctions imposed on Myanmar over the military's deadly military crackdown on dissent last week are mainly cosmetic and have little chance of pushing the regime to change, analysts said.

The United States has ordered a freeze on the assets of Myanmar's military leader and 13 other senior officials. The US administration also slapped visa bans on more than 30 members of the junta and their families.

TOKYO, Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - Japan will extend its economic sanctions against North Korea, despite some progress in talks on Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament, a top government spokesman said Sunday.

Tokyo will continue banning visits by North Korean ships and all imports from the impoverished communist state as Pyongyang refuses to come clean on its kidnappings of Japanese civilians, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said.

BANGKOK, Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - Despite global outrage over Myanmar's bloody crackdown on dissent, multinational firms are still vying for the country's rich natural resources, throwing an economic lifeline to the military regime.

US energy giant Chevron, French oil group Total and China's top oil producer China National Petroleum Corporation are among companies giving much-needed income to Myanmar, defying activists' calls to pull out.

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - France will propose to discuss sanctions against Iran outside the UN framework at a meeting with its European Union partners next month, its foreign minister said here Friday.

'We have an appointment on October 15 with the European union,' Bernard Kouchner said on the margins of the UN General Assembly session. 'We will talk about sanctions. Already we are sending a letter to our counterparts.'

NEW YORK, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - Major world powers working to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions said Friday they would wait for two key reports in November before deciding on whether to push for a third round of UN sanctions on Tehran.

Their comments followed talks in New York between the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany and the European Union to discuss measures against the Islamic republic over its refusal to stop enriching uranium.

NEW YORK, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - Major powers are to wait for two reports on Tehran's uranium enrichment program before deciding on whether to push for a third round of UN sanctions on Iran, according to a joint statement on Friday.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany and the European Union agreed to wait until November pending reports by UN atomic agency head Mohamed ElBaradei and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

NEW YORK, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - Six major powers trying to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions launched talks here Friday in search of an elusive compromise on new sanctions against the Islamic republic over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.

Shortly before the closed-door meeting got under way, German Foreign Minister Franck-Walter Steinmeier told reporters: 'this meeting is not going to be simple.'

NEW YORK, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - Six major powers trying to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions meet here Friday to weigh tougher sanctions against the Islamic republic, as Russia urges patience to allow the UN nuclear watchdog to pass judgment on Tehran's cooperation.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to huddle with her counterparts from Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany to discuss a third round of sanctions against Tehran for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.

NEW YORK, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - Major world powers launched a new round of talks on Wednesday to consider a third series of sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear program although the United States expects negotiations to be tough.

Political directors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council as well as Germany met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss detailed elements of a third Security Council resolution on Iran, officials said.

BRUSSELS, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - The European Union on Wednesday began drawing up new sanctions against the Myanmar regime, following a police and military crackdown on peaceful protests led by Buddhist monks in Yangon.

After the Myanmar authorities imposed a curfew in Yangon late Tuesday, the EU, spurred by a tough line from Britain, said it would 'reinforce and strengthen the existing sanctions' should the Myanmar authorities crack down on the 'unarmed and peaceful demonstrators.'

BRUSSELS, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - The European Union on Wednesday said it would reinforce sanctions against Myanmar if anti-junta protests are violently repressed.

The statement was issued before news that police had fired tear gas on about 1,000 protesters led by Buddhist monks and authorities baton-charged a crowd of around 700 anti-junta protesters who gathered in Yangon.

The EU said it would 'reinforce and strengthen the existing sanctions' should authorities 'resort to using violence against the unarmed and peaceful demonstrators.'

BEIJING, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - While the United States has hit the generals ruling Myanmar with fresh sanctions, the junta can confidently look to their Asian neighbours for financial support as they hold on to power, analysts said.

China has long been the Myanmar government's most loyal and lucrative friend, enabling the impoverished Southeast Asian nation's military to grow increasingly powerful and its elite to fatten their own wallets, they said.