The United Nations special envoy to Burma, Razali Ismail, has arrived in Rangoon at the start of a visit aimed at promoting dialogue between the military authorities and the opposition.

Mr Razali was met at the airport by the deputy foreign minister, Khin Maung Win, and UN officials.

It is Razali Ismail's 8th trip to Burma

During his five-day visit he is to meet members of the government, the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and diplomats.

Mr Razali helped secure Aung San Suu Kyi's release from house arrest in May. Correspondents say the euphoria among the Burmese opposition over her freedom has given way to questions about when the authorities will open talks with her.

Hopes of progress

"The secretary-general hopes that Mr Razali's mission, the first since political freedom was restored to Aung San Suu Kyi in May, will provide the process with added momentum so that the two sides can start their substantive dialogue in the near future," a UN statement said.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been afforded full political freedom since her release, with two trips outside the capital unhindered by the military.

But she has had no talks with the ruling generals.

The talks that she began with the junta in October 2000 never moved beyond the 'confidence-building stage'.

Mr Razali is scheduled to meet three ministers on Friday afternoon.

He is due to hold talks with the SPDC's powerful first secretary, Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, and then with Aung San Suu Kyi, on Saturday morning.

During his five-day visit, Mr Razali is also due to meet with international non-governmental organisations and ethnic minority groups.

His arrival on Friday coincided with the release by democracy activists in the US of photographs which are purported to show the bodies of 12 villagers from Karen state allegedly massacred by the military.

His trip also coincides with a visit by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, who arrives on Saturday. She is the highest ranking official from Burma's biggest aid donor to visit since 1983.

Sanctions remain

Mr Razali said after Aung San Suu Kyi's release that the US-led economic sanctions on Burma were likely to remain until it was clear that the junta was co-operating with the democracy leader, whose party won national elections in 1989 but was never allowed to assume power.

He also said that reconciliation should include the release of political prisoners.

At least 297 members of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy and 41 other political prisoners have been released since the start of the reconciliation talks.

According to official figures, another 261 members of the opposition party remain in prison. It is not known how many non-NLD political prisoners are detained.