WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States said on Wednesday it was ready to relax some sanctions on Myanmar to recognize its fledgling democratic transition, including a ban on U.S. companies investing in or offering financial services to the country.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed the Obama administration wanted to move cautiously, saying that the resource-rich Southeast Asian country has a long way to go to shake off decades of military rule.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States said on Wednesday it was ready to relax some sanctions on Myanmar to recognize its fledgling democratic transition, including a ban on U.S. companies investing in or offering financial services to the country.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed the Obama administration wanted to move cautiously, saying that the resource-rich Southeast Asian country has a long way to go to shake off decades of military rule.

WASHINGTON, April 4 (Reuters) – The United States said on
Wednesday it was ready to relax some sanctions on Myanmar to
recognize its fledgling democratic transition, including a ban
on U.S. companies investing in or offering financial services to
the country.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed
the Obama administration wanted to move cautiously, saying that
the resource-rich Southeast Asian country has a long way to go
to shake off decades of military rule.

WASHINGTON, March 29 (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama
is likely to determine by Friday that there will be enough oil
in the world market to allow countries to cut imports from Iran,
taking another step toward sanctioning those nations that do
not, analysts and a congressional aide said.

Obama is required by a sanctions law he signed in December
to determine by March 30, and every six months after, whether
the price and supply of non-Iranian oil are sufficient to allow
consumers to “significantly” cut their purchases from Iran.

WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) – The United States on
Tuesday urged the Syrian opposition to unite and pledge to
respect minority rights in a future Syria should President
Bashar al-Assad be driven from power, and warned armed rebels
and government forces against committing human rights abuses.

Disunity among the Syrian opposition to Assad has fed fears
that Syria could slide into sectarian and ethnic conflict, much
as Iraq did after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam
Hussein.

WASHINGTON/BAMAKO (Reuters) – The United States said on Monday it would suspend some aid to Mali after last week’s coup, estimating $60-70 million may be affected, but stressed it would maintain food and humanitarian assistance.

Five days after an overnight coup, the West African state is in limbo with the whereabouts of President Amadou Toumani Toure uncertain, the putsch leaders disowned by neighbors and world powers, and Malians confused over their country’s fate.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will allow U.S. military aid to Egypt to continue despite Cairo’s failure to meet pro-democracy conditions, a senior State Department official said on Thursday, a move sharply criticized on Capitol Hill.

The office of Senator Patrick Leahy, who chairs the Senate subcommittee on foreign aid, revealed Clinton’s decision and made clear his deep unhappiness with it, arguing that Clinton should now limit the amount of military aid that is released.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans to allow some U.S. military assistance to Egypt to go forward despite its failure to meet pro-democracy conditions, a Democratic senator said on Thursday, while sharply criticizing the move.

The office of Patrick Leahy, who chairs the Senate subcommittee on foreign aid, announced the decision and made clear his deep unhappiness with it, arguing Clinton should now limit the amount of military aid that is released.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Tuesday exempted Japan and 10 EU nations from financial sanctions because they have significantly cut purchases of Iranian crude oil, but left Iran’s top customers China and India exposed to the possibility of such steps.

The decision is a victory for the 11 countries, whose banks have been given a six-month reprieve from the threat of being cut off from the U.S. financial system under new sanctions designed to pressure Iran over its nuclear program.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Like everyone, Iranians need diapers. Fred Harrington has built a business by selling Iran the raw materials to make them.

The Redmond, Washington, businessman, who exports to Iran under a humanitarian license from the U.S. Treasury Department, says he is owed close to $3.8 million by Iranian companies who cannot pay him because of the latest U.S. and European Union sanctions.