Myanmar's snub may result in sanctions

YANGON, Myanmar, July 5 (UPI) -- Britain may impose new sanctions on Myanmar because of a snub of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.

After the Myanmar government refused the secretary-general's request to visit detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Brown told the BBC the regime was "obstinate." He suggested further sanctions against the military leaders of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

Ban was in Myanmar for two days. He said Gen. Than Shwe told him he could not visit Suu Kyi while she is on trial.

Her trial for allegedly violating terms of her house arrest was postponed indefinitely July 3. She has been in prison since May when she was transferred from house arrest after an American man swam to her lakeside house.

Members of the opposition claim the trial is a pretense to keep Suu Kyi away from the public until after next year's elections. She could serve as much as five years if convicted.