THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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A key United Nations committee is strongly condemning human rights violations in Myanmar and urging the government to release of all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi.

The General Assembly human rights committee approved a resolution Thursday criticizing the Southeast Asian nation's rights record by a vote of 92-26 with 65 abstentions.

The resolution must now be approved at a plenary session of the 192-member world body where its adoption is virtually certain.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, accused the sponsors of trying to exert political pressure and interfere in the country which it said was on the threshold of change.

The resolution expresses grave concern at the recent trial and conviction of Suu Kyi, the country's pro-democracy leader, and calls for her release along with the more than 2,000 other political prisoners.