WASHINGTON - A SENIOR US diplomat will discuss human rights concerns in Myanmar during visits to Japan and Singapore in early December, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Friday.

Mr Scot Marciel, the deputy assistant secretary for the East Asia and Pacific Bureau, will 'travel to Tokyo to consult with Japanese officials regarding human rights, democracy and other concerns in Burma', Mr McCormack told reporters.

The United States refers to Myanmar as Burma, the name used before it was changed by the military junta. Mr Marciel's visit to Japan will take place on Dec 1-2, Mr McCormack said.

Mr Marciel, who is also US ambassador for the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) Affairs, will also visit Singapore from Dec 3-6 to discuss Myanmar and US-Asean cooperation with Asean member countries, he said.

The 10-member bloc includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. -- AFP