U.S.'s Kerry presses Myanmar leaders on human rights, reforms

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gives a speech during the 7th Lower Mekong Initiative ministerial meeting at the Myanmar International Convention Centre (MICC) in Naypyitaw, August 9, 2014. REUTERS/ Soe Zeya Tun

NAYPYIDAW Myanmar (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday pressed Myanmar's political leaders on Washington's human rights concerns and urged its President Thein Sein to step up constitutional reforms to ensure elections next year are fully credible.

Kerry, in Myanmar's capital for the ASEAN Regional Forum, met Thein Sein and discussed plans for elections in 2015, concerns over the treatment of the minority Muslim Rohingya, as well as the jailing of journalists, a senior State Department official said.