In divided US politics, rare agreement on Myanmar

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats and Republicans are setting aside their sharp political differences to agree on a policy toward Myanmar.

The Obama administration has support from key Republicans to restore full diplomatic relations and contemplate easing sanctions against the country also known as Burma, reversing two decades of U.S. isolation of a reviled military regime.

Primarily, that is because the president has political cover from a slight figure idolized on both sides of the political aisle in Washington: democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell is a longtime supporter of Suu Kyi. He has praised the administration's decision to exchange ambassadors with Myanmar and says he would take his cue from Suu Kyi on whether to lift sanctions.