71.   Burmese military officials in Rangoon said that ceasefire overtures had been made towards the MTA, which has been fighting for an independent Shan state.

72.   Burmese officials were not immediately available for comment.

73.   Burma intends to retaliate against EU sanctions applied this week to restrict the issuing of European visas for senior Burmese officials, Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw said Friday.

74.   But Burmese officials at the time poured scorn on the US claims.

75.   China has become the primary source of precursor chemicals being used to produce illicit drugs in Burma which are then sent to Thailand, a Burmese official said Thursday.

76.   Visiting senior US Drug Enforcement Administration officials have met with leading Burmese anti-narcotic officials in eastern Shan State, Radio Rangoon reported Monday.

77.   Karen rebels are still holding three hostages taken from a passenger ferry which was attacked in southeastern Burma last week, a Burmese military official said Wednesday.

78.   The action was taken to prevent a major party congress planned by the NLD last weekend, a senior Burmese military official said during a press conference on Tuesday.

79.   The meeting was also attended by several leading Burmese military officials including navy and air force chiefs, the report said without elaborating.