Myanmar to allow registered protests

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- The government of Myanmar has passed a law allowing peaceful protests, providing organizers register the events five days in advance, officials said.

All protests were banned under the former military rule that began in 1962 until last year when a "nominally" civilian government was created in the country formerly known as Burma, the BBC said Saturday.

President Thein Sein signed the new law into effect as the government also announced a ceasefire with the militant Shan State Army South group that's demanding full democracy.

The two major reform measures coincided with the end of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's three-day state visit, the report said.

Clinton is the most senior U.S. official to visit the reclusive Asian country in more than 50 years, the BBC said.

The United States still considers Myanmar to be hostile and is maintaining longstanding sanctions on its government.