Southeast Asian nations pressed Myanmar’s (Burma’s) generals to get serious about democracy as they opened a summit today aiming for broader Asian integration – an uphill task as shown by a feud raging between China and Japan.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday denied for the second day running that Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have a secret “cosy deal” in place for the 2007 elections.

ENDA Kenny has vowed he will immediately sack any minister found responsible for a PPARS-type overspend in any future Fine Gael-led government.

FINE GAEL Leader Enda Kenny last night called for compulsory Irish to be scrapped for the Leaving Certificate.

BURMA’S military rulers yesterday said a constitutional convention, touted as a first step toward democracy, had a successful start despite an opposition boycott and massive international criticism.

The UN secretary-general has urged Burma’s military government and its main pro-democracy party to reach an agreement under which the opposition party – led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi – will attend a constitution-drafting convention.

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to be freed from house arrest soon, her party said today.

Burma’s military government today formally invited Aung San Suu Kyi’s pro-democracy party to attend next month’s constitution-drafting National Convention.

Burma’s military government will free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi by May 17 and invite her party to join a constitutional convention, the country’s foreign minister said today.

Burma’s military junta is to reconvene a national convention to draft a new constitution on May 17 – the first major step on its self-proclaimed “road map to democracy.”