US president George Bush announced further US sanctions against Burma's (Myanmar) military rulers today, saying they had continued to defy international demands to "stop their vicious persecution".
Imposing the second package of US measures in less than a month, Mr Bush said he was adding more of Myanmar's leaders to a list of those already facing financial and travel sanctions and that he had instructed the US Commerce Department to tighten export controls on Burma.
Calling for stepped-up international pressure, Mr Bush also urged China, India and other countries in the region to "review their own laws and policies" with regard to Burma.
"Burma's rulers continue to defy the world's just demands to stop their vicious persecution," Bush told reporters. "They continue to reject the clear will of the Burmese people."
Bush's latest announcement followed weeks of mostly unsuccessful international efforts to get Myanmar's government to ease up on repression of democracy protesters and open a dialogue with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar's generals have kept a tight lid on the country since soldiers and police crushed Buddhist monk-led street protests that began in late September.
Bush unveiled new sanctions at the UN General Assembly last month, toughening US measures that had been in place for years but had forced little change.
Under the latest package, Mr Bush said that "in light of the ongoing atrocities by these men and their associates" he had designated 11 more leaders under existing sanctions and had issued an executive order naming 12 new "individuals and entities" to be covered by US measures.