Jan. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Leaders of Myanmar's Karen rebel group failed to agree on a cease-fire during six days of talks with the country's military regime and will continue negotiations, Agence France-Presse reported.

The 21-member Karen National Union delegation returned to Thailand today after the talks in Myanmar's capital, Yangon, AFP said, citing spokeswoman Nant Zoya Phan. The delegation was led by Bo Mya, the leader of the Union's military wing, the Karen Liberation Army.

``No agreement has been made yet,'' she told AFP. ``We propose to have a longer process for this.''

The rebels have been fighting since 1948 for an independent state for ethnic Karens, who make up about 7 percent of Myanmar's population of more than 42 million people. Members of the delegation met General Than Shwe, the head of the junta that has ruled the country formerly known as Burma since 1962, and Prime Minister Khin Nyunt, in a sign the talks made progress, AFP cited unidentified rebel officials as saying.

(Agence France-Presse 1-22)

See {WAFP <GO>} for AFP's Web site

Last Updated: January 22, 2004 01:57 EST