Burma Lifts Curfew, Ban on Assembly

Burma is scrapping a curfew and a ban on assemblies of more than 5 people in Yangon, apparently assured that pro-democracy protests are dead. The junta also gave opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi a fresh invite for compromise talks, the AP reports. Both moves come after Bush imposed a new round of sanctions against Burma for its brutal crackdown on protesters. 

A state newspaper ran the compromise plea to Suu Kyi, who has been imprisoned for 12 of the past 18 years. "We are tired of watching a stalemate for a long time considering that we should not go on like this forever," the paper said. Burma claims to want democracy, but critics dismiss the junta's promises of a new constitution and free elections. (Read more Myanmar stories.)