Strasbourg - The European Parliament passed a resolution Thursday calling for sanctions against the military regime in Myanmar and for the release of opposition political figure and 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

The resolution also said the military government, in power since 1962, should immediately and unconditionally release more than 1,800 political prisoners.

Among the sanctions urged by the European parliamentarians include a trade embargo for vital goods, a worldwide arms embargo and restrictions on international banking services for members of the Myanmar military.

According to the MEPs, the European Union's own arms embargo against Myanmar is insufficient by itself, since the south Asian country is able to import weapons from China, Russia and India.

The resolution also strongly criticised the upcoming national referendum on a new constitution for Myanmar, saying it would have "no democratic legitimacy" since citizens were barred from their fundamental democratic rights. The referendum is set for May 10. (dpa)