Posted: 2007-10-24 03:25:22

SYDNEY, Oct. 24 (Kyodo) – Australia has imposed financial sanctions on Myanmar , following the military government’s brutal quashing of mass antigovernment protests last month, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Wednesday.

The financial sanctions target 418 senior government and military officials, and prohibit the transfer of funds between Australia and Myanmar.

The measures are the strongest that can be imposed under Australian law against countries that are not subject to U.N. Security Council sanctions, Downer said in a statement.

The financial sanctions are in addition to tight visa restrictions and a ban on defense exports which Australia has had in place against Myanmar, also known as Burma, for several years.

“Australia has consistently urged the Burmese regime to work toward genuine democratic reform and national reconciliation, and to afford all Burmese citizens international standards of human rights,” Downer said.

“These new measures are designed to put further pressure on the regime and its supporters, while avoiding harm to the people of Burma.”