US imposes sanctions on Myanmar individuals, entities

[WASHINGTON] The United States imposed sanctions on Monday targeting individuals and groups linked to Myanmar's military and its repression of pro-democracy protesters, the US Treasury Department said.

The US action came on the heels of the European Union imposing its own sanctions on Monday on 11 individuals linked to the Feb 1 coup in Myanmar, also known as Burma, the EU's most significant response since the military began suppressing protests violently.

"The Burmese security forces' lethal violence against peaceful protesters must end," said Andrea Gacki, director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. "We continue to stand with the people of Burma."

The Treasury's action targeted Than Hlaing, a police force leader, and military officer Aung Soe, as well as two military groups, the 33rd Light Infantry Division of the Burmese Army and the 77th Light Infantry Division of the Burmese Army.

REUTERS