British Ambassador Vicky Bowman held talks with Interior Minister Maj-Gen Maung Oo and Police Chief Khin Yi on Tuesday, in which she pressed the issue of human rights and discussed the continuing absence of security outside foreign embassies.

A spokesperson for the British Embassy said the ambassador also pressed the issue of political prisoners in the country. Foreign embassies in Rangoon have been concerned about security since the beginning of this month when the government-without explanation-withdrew guards from outside foreign compounds. It later explained these would be replaced by plain-clothes security personnel, but this has not been implemented. A diplomat in Rangoon said talks on the issue remain “ongoing.”

The British Embassy in Rangoon said it requested the meeting to discuss cooperation in areas related to the Interior Ministry’s mandate, including HIV/AIDS. The EU has a three-pronged policy in dealing with the junta based on targeted sanctions, assistance and dialogue, the embassy said.