U.S. easing restrictions on Myanmar

WASHINGTON, April 18 (UPI) -- Financial restrictions on humanitarian and other non-profit activity in Myanmar have been lifted, the U.S. Treasury Department declared.

Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to visit Norway and Britain later this year, the BBC reports. The tour would mark the first time the Nobel Peace Prize laureate will travel abroad in 24 years.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has earned praise from members of the international community for political reforms.

Suu Kyi was released from a lengthy house arrest in 2010, weeks before the country's first general election in 20 years. She led her National League for Democracy Party to a sweeping victory in elections earlier this month.

Adam Szubin, director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control at the U.S. Treasury Department, said financial restrictions against certain non-profit activities in Myanmar were lifted, CNN reports.

In early April, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Washington was taking steps to ease diplomatic pressure on Myanmar in response to democratic developments. Clinton said the moves included naming an envoy and loosening financial restrictions on the country.

The Australian and British governments announced similar measures in recent weeks.