The United States and European Union have urged Burma's military leaders to include minority and pro-democracy groups in the constitutional convention which reconvenes Thursday.
In a statement released Wednesday the European Union called on the ruling junta to put aside past hostilities and enter into constructive dialogue with the opposition National League for Democracy and ethnic groups in order to assure the convention's success.
The U.S. and E.U. statements also called for the release of N.L.D leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, as well as for the release of Shan nationality leader Khun Htun Oo.
The Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, a regional human rights group, Wednesday urged the international community to withdraw support for the convention, calling it illegitimate.