Clinton, Suu Kyi have second meeting

Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who met again Friday with visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, welcomed U.S. engagement in her country.The meeting at Suu Kyi's home in Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, was their second in two days. The talks came at a crucial time, with the isolated country under a new civilian government and taking steps toward democracy after decades of military rule."If we go forward together I'm confident there will be no turning back from the road to democracy. We are not on that road yet, but we hope to get there as soon as possible with our friends," Suu Kyi told reporters after her meeting with Clinton, The Washington Post reported.Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate had been under house arrest for years until 2010. The new government of President Thein Sein has allowed her and her party to participate in elections. She has announced plans to run in the next parliamentary election.Clinton, the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Myanmar in 50 years, called Suu Kyi "an inspiration."The two women agreed the new government in Myanmar, formerly called Burma, needs to introduce more democratic reforms, stressing the need for rule of law and the freeing of all political prisoners.Suu Kyi urged other countries to support Myanmar's march toward democracy. She also stressed the need to maintain friendly ties with China, her country's longstanding ally.Neither Clinton nor Suu Kyi brought up the U.S. sanctions against trade with Myanmar, and they are expected to remain in force for a while, The New York Times said.Clinton's visit was made possible after U.S. President Barack Obama, noting the recent changes in Myanmar, urged her to seek ways to widen relations.Clinton met with Thein Sein and other top government officials Thursday. She promised U.S. support to help in Myanmar's development, conditioned on the new government continuing with its reforms toward democracy. The two countries could even exchange ambassadors.CNN, quoting a State Department official, reported that Clinton invited Myanmar's foreign minister to visit Washington and that he had accepted, but no date was set.