Myanmar regime change could 8216;create another Iraq8217;

Ong, who is secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which includes Myanmar, said sudden change was not a realistic solution.

8220;Whether you are in ASEAN or not, if you sit back and understand the constitution and make-up of Myanmar and you say you want to have a regime change, you are going to create another Iraq,8221; he said.

8220;It8217;s an Iraqi situation because there are at least 17 different major factions making up the population of Myanmar.

8220;Just look at Iraq. They US-led forces removed the former Iraqi army, the former Iraqi police and now what is happening? I think regime change is a very fashionable buzzword in certain quarters but it is not realistic.8221;

Myanmar8217;s ruling generals sparked global outrage when soldiers and riot police used weapons to disperse anti-government demonstrations last month, killing at least 13 people.

More than 2,000 people were arrested following the biggest protests against the military government in almost 20 years.