Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton visit some of Myanmar's holiest sites on a whirlwind landmark tour of the country.<br/> <br />The U.S. president and secretary of state also met up with Myanmar's top officials, including opposition leader and democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi as well as President Thein Sein.<br/> <br />President Obama said the 6 hour visit, the first by a U.S. leader in decades, is about acknowledging Myanmar's progress toward democracy after long years under military rule.<br/> <br />But Obama was also firm that human rights abuses and a recent surge in ethnic violence were also on the agenda.<br/> <br />Burmese citizens in the capital Yangon were excited about the visit by Obama and Clinton.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) YANGON RESIDENT KYAW SOE AUNG SAYING:<br/> <br />"I really hope that Obama will help build the transition to democracy. We have many ethnic groups in Myanmar, and they are also hoping that Obama will help them progress."<br/> <br />The U.S. has softened sanctions and removed a ban on many imports from Myanmar, but says full normalisation of relations can only come after more conditions are met, including releasing all political prisoners.
