Washington, May 16 (IANS) President Barack Obama has formally extended US sanctions against Myanmar amid latest tensions over detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi who was put on trial on charges of allowing a US national to visit her home without permission from the authorities.
'I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Burma (Myanmar), and maintain the sanctions against Yangon to respond to this threat,' Obama told the Congress.
The Friday's move comes despite an official review of the US policy on Myanmar currently underway, Geo TV reported Saturday.
Aung San Suu Kyi was put on trial Thursday for allowing a US national to visit her home, where she has been under detention for the past six years.
After an initial hearing, the trial was scheduled to be continued May 18.
The Nobel laureate was taken from her family compound Thursday and kept at Insein Prison after the hearing.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she wants a 'better way' to deal with the military regime in Myanmar.
Suu Kyi led her party to victory in the 1990 general elections, but the military regime never allowed her to form a government.
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