A senior leader in Burma's military junta has insisted it will not be hurried in moving towards more open government.

The junta has been pressed by the US and Europe to speed up a reconciliation process underway with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

But Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt told visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad that Burma would move towards "democracy" at its own speed.

"Such a transition cannot be done in haste and in a haphazard manner. The world is full of examples where a hasty transition from one system to another led to unrest, instability and even failed states," he told a conference attended by Dr Mahathir.

Mahathir: Maintaining a dialogue with the Burmese military

Dr Mahathir, visiting Burma mainly to promote Malaysian business interests, tacitly backed the junta's position.

"We are aware that the process of change must be gradual," he said.

The military government freed Aung San Suu Kyi from almost 20 months of house arrest in May, but has since seemed wary about beginning talks on substantive change.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won Burma's last election in 1990, but was never allowed to take power.

During his two-day visit, Dr Mahathir also met military leader General Than Shwe.

He was not expected to meet Aung San Suu Kyi. Some reports said the military blocked the meeting.

Dr Mahathir, who is being accompanied by a 300-strong delegation of Malaysian business leaders and officials, is widely seen as a strong supporter of engaging the diplomatically-isolated Rangoon government.

He was instrumental in helping Burma join the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), a regional trade grouping.