Myanmar rejects US criticism over ethnic conflict

YANGON: U.S. criticism of Myanmar’s conflict with ethnic minority rebels has drawn a sharp rejoinder from the government, which says it is offended that Washington still calls the country by its old name, Burma.

The rejection of the U.S. criticism came in a Myanmar Foreign Ministry statement published Saturday in the state-run Myanma Ahlin newspaper.

The exchange is a reminder that the rapprochement between the two countries is still far from complete as Myanmar transitions from ostracized military state to fledging democracy, even though Washington has eased most sanctions it imposed on the previous army regime.

U.S. concern was triggered by reports that fighting has continued against ethic Kachin guerrillas innorthern Myanmar despite a unilateral cease-fire declared by the government.