Obama warns of Myanmar 'backsliding'

US President Barack Obama is to hold talks with Myanmar's President Thein Sein, hours after accusing his government of backsliding on reforms.

US President Barack Obama is to hold talks with Myanmar's President Thein Sein, hours after accusing his government of backsliding on reforms.

Mr Obama is in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, for the East Asia summit, which follows Wednesday's Asean meeting.

In an interview with a Thai-based Burmese website ahead of his arrival, he said that progress had been made.

But he said reform momentum had slowed in Myanmar and that there had even been some steps backwards.

"Burma is still at the beginning of a long and hard journey of renewal and reconciliation," Mr Obama wrote in the interview with The Irrawaddy magazine.

In some areas there had been progress, he said, including "the release of additional political prisoners, a process of constitutional reform, and ceasefire agreements" relat