Bangkok  - The issue of Rohingya refugees is to be raised at the South-East Asian summit to be held this month in Thailand, which has been accused of abusing the rights of the Myanmar minority group, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Yangon (Myanmar), Feb. 8 : Vice President M. Hamid Ansari paid a visit to the mausoleum of former Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar here on Saturday.

Acknowledging Zafar's contribution to India''s first war of independence in 1857, Ansari said: "Bahudar Shah Zafar occupies a place in our history and played a prominent role in the First War of Independence in 1857 and every citizen in the country (India) knows about it. It is a matter of great regret that he had to spend the last days of his life away from his own country."

Ansari is on a four-day official visit to Myanmar.

Bangkok  - The Shan State Army - an insurgent group in north-east Myanmar - has opposed the junta's planned general election in 2010, joining a growing number of ethnic minority groups determined to upset the polls, media reports and analysts said Sunday.

Shan State Army leader Colonel Yod Serk said the SSA was one of at least ten ethnic minority rebel groups that have come out against the 2010 general election, the Bangkok Post reported.

"The junta announced the upcoming election, but never let the opposing parties run in the race," Yod Serk told the newspaper.

Yangon, Feb 7 : Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari today visited the mausoleum of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, and paid homage to the saintly figure who became a symbol of resistance against foreign occupation.

The Bahadur Shah Zafar mausoleum is the most popular shrine, which shares historical and cultural legacy of India and Myanmar.

Ansari described the visit to the mazaar, as remembering the contribution of Bahadur Shah Zafar during the freedom struggle, whose name is written in the golden words.

Yangon, Feb. 6 : Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Thursday said that the economic engagement between India and Myanmar promises immense potential.

Addressing the Banquet hosted by the Vice Senior General Maung Aye, he pledged to work in close association with Myanmar to strengthen bilateral ties.

"We have pledged to work together to strengthen our bilateral relations in the months and years to come. We share with you a vision of a partnership based on friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation," Ansari said.

Yangon, Feb. 6 : Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, on Friday urged entrepreneurs of India and Myanmar to share their experiences and look for ways to enhance bilateral trade cooperation.

Inaugurating the Myanmar-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre (MIEDC) at Yangon, he said India is keen to share its developmental experience with the people of Myanmar through the MIEDC.

He hoped the MIEDC would spearhead the entrepreneurship development movement in Myanmar and facilitate the creation of viable and competitive new enterprises and new job opportunities.