US criticises Burmese military junta for Suu Kyi's sentence

The United States came down heavily on military junta of Burma, after a Myanmar court sentenced the popular Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi to another 18 months of house arrest, which the US President, Barack Obama, termed as unjust.

"They are afraid of a 64-year-old woman who probably weighs barely a hundred pounds," the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, PJ Crowley, told reporters at the daily State Department press briefing.

"But what she represents is an idea that this is government by the people and on behalf of the people rather than government by the few for the benefit of a few," he said.

Asserting that the Burmese government verdict is 'completely unacceptable', Crowley based on the facts of the case, said, in essence, she was convicted of being polite.

"This is a thinly veiled effort by the Burmese government to keep her on the sidelines for elections next year," he said.

Crowley acknowledged that this would have a negative impact on the Burma policy review, currently being undertaken by the Obama Administration. In terms of our ongoing review, clearly, this will have a negative effect, he said.

"Like we have in many other circumstances, there is an opportunity for a different kind of relationship by Burma with not only the United States but also the rest of the international community. And clearly, we feel this is a step in the wrong direction," Crowley said.