Burma’s military handed power to a nominally civilian government after almost half a century of army rule on Wednesday.

Burma Prime Minister Thein Sein was chosen on Friday to become the military-run country’s first civilian president in half a century.

US Senator Jim Webb met Burma’s top military leader and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday and announced the release of a jailed American.

US Senator Jim Webb began historic talks with Than Shwe on Saturday, becoming the first senior Washington official to meet the head of Burma’s regime.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon ended a mission to Burma on Saturday saying he was ”deeply disappointed”.

Burma’s junta chief Than Shwe urged parties to shun foreign ideologies if they want democracy as the military put on a show of might on Friday.