BBC-Burmese junta talks to oppositi

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Tuesday, August 18, 1998 Published at 11:24 GMT 12:24 UK 

Burmese junta talks to opposition 

Senior leaders of the Burmese government have held talks with the
opposition National League for Democracy for the first time in more than a
year. 

A government statement described the encounter as open and cordial and said
it could be the first in a series of confidence building meetings. 

It said a delegation led by the military intelligence chief, Khin Nyunt,
talked for forty five minutes at a government guest house with the chairman
of the NLD, Aung Shwe.The Opposition has turned down previous offers of
talks because they excluded the party's leader, Aung San Suu-kyi. 

She is spending a seventh day at the roadside after being blocked by the
security forces on her latest attempt to leave the capital. 



>From the newsroom of the BBC World Service