Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's pages

The European Union will push on Monday for the release of political prisoners in military-ruled Burma, saying sanctions could be toughened despite the generals' pledge to hold elections in 2010.

At a regular meeting in Brussels, EU foreign ministers will warn of stepped up sanctions if human rights conditions do not improve, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters on Friday.

The draft calls for the release of all political prisoners, including Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and urges the junta to enter serious talks with political opponents.

The generals last held elections in 1990, but ignored the result when Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won by a landslide. The EU draft also calls on the generals to re-admit U.N. mediator Ibrahim Gambari and human rights expert Sergio Pinheiro.

"The European Union remains deeply concerned by the situation in Burma/Myanmar and urges the authorities to take rapid steps to transition to a democratically elected government," the draft said.