The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Beijing

Asian and European leaders urged Myanmar's ruling junta on Saturday to release detained opposition members and implement democracy in the poverty-stricken Southeast Asian nation.

The appeal followed heavy lobbying for the Asia-Europe Meeting here, chaired by Myanmar's ally China and attended by leaders from more than 40 countries, to come out strongly in support of democratic freedoms in the country. "(Leaders) encouraged the Myanmar government to engage all stakeholders in an inclusive political process in order to achieve national reconciliation and economic and social development," they said in a joint statement.

"In this regard, they called for the lifting of restrictions placed on political parties and early further release of those under detention."

The call marked the latest pressure applied to the junta, which has ruled the country since 1962 and crushed large-scale democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in September last year.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told AFP in an interview the mention of Myanmar in the joint statement showed progress on the issue.

"It's important to note, there is a clear reference for the need to release political prisoners, which was accepted by the Asian side," he said.

The European Parliament on Thursday passed a resolution calling on the summit to jointly appeal to the junta to release political prisoners.