A European Union delegation is in Burma for talks with government officials and opposition figures in a bid to encourage political reconciliation and address human rights issues. 

The mission, led by Spanish diplomat Rafael Conde, arrived in Rangoon on Wednesday and will hold discussions for the next two days. EU spokesmen say the delegation is looking for first-hand information about the progress of negotiations between the military government and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Those talks began in late 2000, but no substantial progress has been reported. 

EU trade, diplomatic and financial sanctions against Burma remain in effect. They were imposed in 1988, after the military crushed pro-democracy demonstrations in Rangoon. 

This EU mission to Burma comes just a few days after the government said it had arrested four relatives of former dictator Ne Win on charges of plotting a coup. Officials say the plot was foiled after a divisional military commander who was informed of the coup plan told police. 

Burma's chief of police, the air force chief and a regional army commander are said to have been fired in the aftermath of the plot. More leadership changes are expected. 

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