[Myanmar] Burma Will End Child Soldier Use: Official

Deputy Information Minister and presidential spokesman Ye Htut says Burma is committed to resolving the problem of recruiting and using child soldiers. The statement came in response to a new report charging that the practice continues despite a pact with the UN to end it. He said on Thursday that Burma’s signing of the agreement last June demonstrated the country’s commitment and political will to eliminate the problem.Child Soldiers International reported on Wednesday that levels of child recruitment have declined, but the practice continues due to a lack of political will to implement safeguards, with a failure to monitor army recruitment. It said recruitment patterns appear unchanged from the past decade. –AP