More than 20 U.S.-based human rights and advocacy groups are urging President Barack Obama to expand financial sanctions against senior Myanmar officials because diplomacy has failed to bring democratic change, according to AP. Washington has already imposed sanctions on scores of individuals and businesses, barring them from owning property or holding bank accounts in the U.S. The rights groups want the U.S. to take further steps allowed under 2008 legislation to prevent foreign banks that hold assets of those targeted by the sanctions from doing business with American banks. They say in a letter Thursday that Myanmar's military-dominated government will not change course without more pressure. The signatories included U.S. unions, pro-democracy groups and Myanmar exiles.
