US sees 'open channel' with Myanmar on human rights

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - The United States (US) has concluded its first set of human rights talks with Myanmar and is confident it now has an "open channel" to discuss political prisoners and other sensitive subjects as ties improve, the State Department said on Wednesday.

Mr Michael Posner, the State Department's top human rights official, led the US team at the talks in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, which is also known as Burma.

The talks come as the Obama administration dismantles longstanding sanctions to reward Myanmar's leaders for political and economic reforms.

"The results of the dialogue were assessed to be very positive and we look forward to continuing these discussions with Burmese authorities," State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland told a news briefing.