U.S. levels more sanctions against Myanmar

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The United States has leveled additional sanctions against Myanmar's leaders for their "unacceptable" actions that thwart democracy, the White House said.

President George W. Bush ordered the additional economic sanctions against family members of regime leaders in the country formally known as Burma, four companies and three individuals pursuant to an executive order he signed in October, the White House press office said in a statement.

Thirty individuals and seven entities previously were designated for sanctions by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

"The actions of (military leader) Than Shwe and his associates remain unacceptable to all those who value freedom," said the statement, including the continued house arrest of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi; the refusal to allow U.N. Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari to re-enter Myanmar, formerly known as Burma; and the planned secret trials of the monk U Gambira and 10 Burmese pro-democracy activists.

"They say that they're going to do things that they don't follow up on," presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino said during a media briefing. "We do know that sanctions can have an impact and they help curtail economic activity and can further isolate the junta."