Washington – The United States on Monday blamed Myanmar’s junta for the opposition’s decision to boycott upcoming elections, saying the regime missed an opportunity to move forward.“This is a reflection of the unwillingness of the government in Burma to take the necessary steps to open up the political process,” State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said, calling the situation “disappointing.”

“We think this is an opportunity lost in terms of Burma’s ability to demonstrate that it is willing to contemplate a different course of action, a different relationship with its own people,” he told reporters.

The National League For Democracy, which swept the last elections in 1990 but was never allowed to take power, decided Monday to boycott polls that are expected later in the year.

The move came after the junta introduced a law that would have forced the party to oust democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi as its leader.