WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Monday saluted Myanmar President Thein Sein for his leadership in pushing through startling political reforms, but warned ethnic violence against Muslims must stop.

As his guest became the first leader of his country in almost 50 years to visit the White House, Obama praised Myanmar's journey away from brutal junta rule and promised Washington would offer more political and economic support.

Seated with Thein Sein in the Oval Office, Obama said previously tortured US-Myanmar relations had eased because of “the leadership that President Sein has shown in moving Myanmar down a path of both political and economic reform.” Obama repeatedly used the word “Myanmar”, rather than Burma.

The former is the name introduced during military rule, and which is slowly being used more frequently by US officials as a courtesy to the reforming government.

The US president said that Thein Sein had made “genuine efforts” to solve the intricate ethnic wars that have long torn at Myanmar's unity, but spoke out on the plight of Rohingya Muslim minority.

He expressed “deep concern about communal violence that has been directed against Muslim communities inside Myanmar.

“The displacement of people, the violence directed towards them needs to stop,” Obama said.

Thein Sein told reporters through a translator that his country had “many challenges,” and was grateful for Obama's policy of engagement towards Myanmar which he said had helped the reform process.

Obama has made Myanmar a key priority and visited in November.

To some, Myanmar represents the biggest success from his pledge in his 2009 inaugural address to reach out to US foes if they “unclench” their fists.

A recent Human Rights Watch report accused Myanmar of a “campaign of ethnic cleansing” against the Rohingya, who are not even considered citizens of the predominantly Buddhist nation.—AFP