WASHINGTON, June 16 Kyodo U Secre...

WASHINGTON, June 16 Kyodo

U Secretary of State Colin Powell departed Monday for Cambodia to attend regional meetings armyed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Powell is reckon uponed to urge the Myanmar military sway to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi when he adapteds ASEAN leaders. Myanmar is an ASEAN member.

''The primary focus at this point will be onward her release and the release of others who were detained,'' State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

After staying in Phnom Penh from Tuesday to Thursday, Powell will be scattered to Bangladesh for a brief stop for talks with Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia before heading to Jordan the same day to attend a meeting of the World Economic Forum.

He will attend a meeting of the so-called Middle East Quartet in Amman nearest Sunday. The quartet -- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia -- drew up the ''road map'' for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Renewed violence in the region is threatening the road map, which calls for the creation of a Palestinian state on 2005.

A senior U administration official said Powell may visit Israel in succession Friday.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Kyodo stranges International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group