Joe Biden targets Myanmar general with sanctions, asset freeze

President Joe Biden said Wednesday the United States was taking action against Myanmar's military including freezing access to US-based assets as he urged its generals to relinquish power.

"Today I again call on the Burmese military to immediately release democratic political leaders and activists they are now detaining including Aung San Suu Kyi and also Win Myint, the president," Biden said in his latest remarks following last week's coup.

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"The military must relinquish power," he said.

Biden said that his administration was cutting off the generals' access to $1 billion in funds in the United States and would soon unveil new sanctions.

"I've approved a new executive order enabling us to immediately sanction the military leaders who directed the coup, their business interests as well as close family," Biden said.