The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Yangon

Military-run Myanmar was under renewed pressure Saturday after the United States announced a new round of sanctions following the junta's bloody crackdown on dissent here.

US President George W. Bush's new penalties targeted the country's military leaders late Friday and also urged China and India, Myanmar's neighbours and main allies, to step up pressure on the military government.

It is the second time in four weeks that the United States has increased sanctions on the junta following the regime's clampdown on protests. State media in Yangon has yet to speak about the latest US action, while detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), also declined to comment on the move.

However, a Yangon-based diplomat voiced scepticism over the impact of the latest US sanctions designed to pressure the junta into ending its repression of pro-democracy activists.

"The junta leaders may feel nervous because the United States was stepping up pressure very quickly," said the diplomat, who declined to be named. "But the impact of the latest US sanctions is limited at best. I don't think Myanmar's top leaders still hold vast assets in the United States," he said.