Myanmar discards seven leaders

The military has been in power since 1962

YANGON, Myanmar -- A shakeup close to the top in Myanmar has analysts speculating about the possibility of a more democratic approach by the ruling military junta.

But the sacking of seven government ministers may not necessarily mean a weakening in the power of the country's elite 16-member military council that has ruled since 1988.

Fired along with Win Myint, the country's fourth-ranking general, were three of the country's deputy prime ministers.

Among them were Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Tin Tun, Deputy Prime Minister Vice Adm. Maung Maung Khin, Culture Minister Win Sein, Cooperative Minister Aung San, Immigration and Population Minister Saw Tun and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Military Affairs Lt. Gen. Tin Hla.

The Sunday announcement gave no reasons for the cabinet changes.

Diplomats speculated that there could be some more purges of senior government officials or cabinet members ahead of the fourth anniversary of the formation of the SPDC on November 15.

The SPDC includes most members of the previous ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), which seized power in 1988 and later changed its name.

Analysts said the changes appeared aimed at making room for more young officials and boosting the regime's tarnished image as antidemocratic. The current regime took power after a bloody crackdown on nationwide protests for democracy in 1988.

It held general elections in 1990, but refused to honor the landslide victory of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently under house detention.

Reconciliation talks between Suu Kyi and the regime began last October but have showed no sign of bringing an end to Myanmar's political deadlock.