Myanmar leader to meet Obama but stalls on reforms

Myanmar President Thein Sein's (tayn sayns) historic White House visit next week is the culmination of U.S. outreach to a former pariah regime.

But in the six months since Barack Obama became the first U.S. president to visit Myanmar, the Southeast Asian nation has been buffeted by communal and ethnic violence, and security forces are still accused of rights abuses. Activists and some in Congress are concerned it may be premature to welcome Myanmar's leader to the White House for the first time in 47 years.

In November, on the eve of Obama's visit to Myanmar - also known as Burma - Thein Sein announced 11 policy commitments. The government has acted on some of those goals, but not others.