PHNOM PENH, June 17: US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday Washington would take a harsh stand on Myanmar following a fresh crackdown on its opposition, including the detention of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

“We want to see Aung San Suu Kyi released as soon as possible and allowed to participate in the political process of Burma (Myanmar’s former name) in a democratic way,” he told reporters accompanying him to the Cambodian capital, where he is scheduled to attend regional security talks Wednesday.

The Myanmar issue, the North Korean nuclear problem and international terrorism are expected to top the agenda at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) annual talks.

Powell said the United States had thought there would be movement in the democratic process in Myanmar, “but all of that has now been blocked by the government and they are moving backwards.

“It is necessary for us to take a harder line with Burma,” he said.

Both the United States and Europe have already introduced tougher sanctions against the military-ruled nation since the Nobel peace laureate’s detention, while Japan has warned Myanmar that it may suspend economic aid over the issue, a foreign ministry spokesman said here on Tuesday. —AFP