EU wants Reuters reporters released immediately

It also undermines the public's right to information and the development of the rule of law in Myanmar, according to the EU.

Their sentencing and imprisonment under the Official Secrets Act of 1923 for covering allegations of serious human rights violations in Rakhine State also serve to intimidate other journalists who will fear harassment and undue arrest or prosecution for merely doing their jobs, an EU press release said.

"Media freedom and critical journalism are essential pillars of democracy. A free press has a key function in promoting transparency and holding democratic governments to account," it continued, and added:

"The European Union and EU Member States diplomats were among the many international observers present at every court hearing since the journalists' arrest on 12 December 2017 and have continuously raised the matter with the Myanmar government.

We therefore reiterate our expectation that the authorities ensure adequate conditions for journalists to carry out their work. The prison sentences of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo should be reviewed and the two journalists be released immediately and unconditionally."

Read more

• "New US Kosovo policy: No red lines, no blank cheques"
• "Serbia, Japan strengthen friendship, cooperation"
• "That hill has to go; Milosevic wanted to burn it with fire"
• "Investigative journalists exposed to dramatic threats"