Rangoon, Jan 12 (ANI): Myanmar has signed a ceasefire agreement with the country's ethnic Karen rebels, taking a major step forward to end one of the world's longest-running insurgencies and meeting a key condition for better ties with the West.
The government's peace committee met leaders of the Karen National Union in the Karen state capital, Pa-an.
Karen rebels have been fighting for autonomy for 63 years and were the only major group in Burma that had not reached a peace agreement with the government.
For decades, Burma has been at odds with the ethnic groups, but a military junta that took power in 1988 signed ceasefire agreements with many of them.
Some of those pacts were strained as the central government sought to consolidate power, and combat resumed.
The new government that took office after November 2010 elections has embarked on reforms to try to end its international isolation, Express.co.uk reports.
Western governments had imposed political and economic sanctions on Burma because of repression under the junta.
In recent months, the government has held talks with rebel groups to strike new peace deals or rebuild shattered ceasefires. The other groups reportedly involved in talks include the Shan, Karenni, Chin and Kachin. (ANI)
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