Myanmar signs ceasefire with ethnic rebels

The Myanmar government has signed a ceasefire agreement with ethnic Karen rebels, taking a major step toward ending one of the world's longest-running insurgencies.

The government's peace committee met on Thursday with leaders of the Karen National Union in the Karen state capital, Hpa-an.

The negotiations were part of government efforts to end international
isolation. Ending war with ethnic rebels is one of the conditions set by
Western countries for improved relations.

Karen rebels have been fighting for autonomy for 63 years and were the only major group in Myanmar that had not reached a peace agreement with the government.

Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay reports from Mae Sot in neighbouring Thailand where hundreds of thousands of Karen are living as refugees.