BBC News with Zoe Diamond

The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced an

easing

of sanctions against Burma. She praised recent developments there, but said the reform process still had a long way to go. Paul Adams reports from Washington.

Hillary Clinton had already said the US would respond positively to democratic progress in Burma. When the former political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi won a seat in parliament over the weekend, it was inevitable Washington would act. Some travel and financial restrictions will now be eased, senior Burmese officials will be able to visit the United States and the US will open a development office in Burma. The EU is clearly

weighing up

a similar package of moves. Speaking in London, the British Foreign Secretary William Hague said some sanctions may be lifted. The elections, he said, appeared to have been a very important moment of change. But he and Hillary Clinton both said they wanted to see the release of other political prisoners.

The United Nations Security Council has expressed concern at the

presence

of al-Qaeda in northern Mali following the recent coup there. It says that it could further

destabilise

the security situation. The council condemned rebel groups in the north who've seized roughly half of the country since the coup, and called for the return of constitutional order. Barbara Plett reports from the UN.

The statement supports the efforts of regional groups who've imposed sanctions on Mali, but such moves were criticised by Mali's UN ambassador. Oumar Daou told the council the steps taken by the African Union and the regional grouping Ecowas added to already difficult conditions, such as drought, hunger, displacement and political conflict. The situation has been under close