Deputy Chief of Mission at the Myanmar Embassy in Washington, Kyaw Win, has written to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seeking political asylum in the US.

Win, in his letter, said that Myanmar leaders are not willing to leave the power and the government has failed to make the transition to democracy.

The 59-year-old career diplomat, who has been posted in Washington since 2008, feared persecution by the Myanmarese authorities for his efforts to improve bilateral ties.

Senior military officials are consolidating their grip on power and seeking to stamp out the voices of those seeking democracy, Radio Free Asia quoted the diplomat in its report.

He also warned that the threat against Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi should be taken must be taken seriously as her personal security can be compromised during her visit to rural Myanmar. Suu Kyi's motorcade was attacked in 2003 in which 70 of her supporters were killed.

Suu Kyi was warned by Myanmar's state media that her tour could trigger chaos and riots.

Win, who earlier served at Myanmar's Embassy in New Delhi, Brasilia, Madrid and Geneva, also told RFA My reports questioning the actions of the military and urging dialogue and reconciliation... resulted in my being deemed dangerous by the government.

Win is the second Myanmar diplomat to seek political asylum in the US. Before him in 2005 Aung Lynn Htut resigned as deputy chief of mission at the Myanmar embassy and requested political asylum in the US for him and his family.

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