Myanmar president hopes to sign ceasefire accord in February

Myanmar President U Thein Sein Monday expressed hope that he would be able to sign a nationwide ceasefire accord on Myanmar's Union Day Feb 12, after the draft accord is finalised.

The news was revealed by secretary of the ethnic armed groups' National Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) Khun Okka in an interview with Xinhua.

Thein Sein made the remark during a meeting with representatives of 12 ethnic armed groups in Nay Pyi Taw who attended Sunday's Independence Day military review parade in the capital at the invitation of the government.

Welcoming the president's proposal, the armed groups demanded an end to ground clashes and said the signing will be possible if some more detailed points are added to the accord.

Of the 16 ethnic armed groups invited by the government to attend the Independence Day military review parade, 12 groups were present. Four groups, including the Kachin Independence Army, did not attend.

Peace negotiators have set Jan 15-16 for the seventh round of formal talks to finalise the draft ceasefire accord.