US to exchange ambassadors with Burma

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Ko Ko Gyi was one of the student activists released

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Burma: Battle for Democracy

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• Timeline of reforms
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• Profile: Suu Kyi

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced that Washington will start the process of exchanging ambassadors with Burma.

The announcement came hours after the country's most prominent political dissidents were released from jail.

US President Barack Obama described the move as a "substantial step forward".

The move is seen as one of the key demands of Western nations before international sanctions can be eased. The US stopped short of lifting them.

Mr Obama said he had asked officials to take "additional steps to build confidence" with Burma.

"Much more remains to be done to meet the aspirations of the Burmese people, but the United States is committed to continuing our engagement," he said.

"In Indonesia, I spoke about the flickers of progress that were emerging in Burma.

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Analysis

Kim GhattasBBC state department correspondent

When Mrs Clinton went to Burma in December, the US took a gamble. She wanted to gauge for herself whether President Thein Sein was serious about opening up the country. The visit was also meant to encourage him to take further, more serious steps towards reforms.

The first visit of an American secretary of state to Burma in 50 years could have been taken as a reward in itself and the changes could have stopped there. But there have been prisoner releases, truce deals with ethnic minorities and easing of some political restrictions.

The US will continue to reward reforms, but lifting of sanctions is unlikely to happen until it's clear that changes in Burma are irreversible. This is a success for the Obama administration and the policy of engagement it has pursued with Burma. But it was only made possible by Burma's own, unexpected, decision to reach out to the US. Other countries like Iran and North Korea have not ''unclenched their fist'' despite Obama's overtures.

"Today, that light burns a bit brighter, as prisoners are reunited with their families and people can see a democratic path forward."

Mrs Clinton said a US ambassador would be identified, but the restoration of ties would be a lengthy process dependent on further reform.

"An American ambassador will help strengthen our efforts to support the historic and promising steps that are now unfolding," she said.

Washington withdrew its ambassador from Burma in 1990, after the country's military rulers ignored elections won by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD).

Broad economic sanctions were introduced by Western nations progressively throughout the 1990s, including arms embargos, travel bans on leading members of the regime, asset freezes and bans on investment.

'Constructive role'

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague also hailed the release of political prisoners as a "further demonstration of the Burmese government's commitment to reform".

There was jubilation as the prisoners were reunited with their families and friends.

Those freed include 1988 student activists, monks involved in 2007 protests and ethnic-minority activists.

But the real test will be how much Continued