Travel group, Kuoni has announced that it will stop operating in Burma from the end of the year.

Sue Biggs, Kuoni's managing director, said: As a result of the recent events in Asia and low public demand, we will not be offering holidays to Burma in 2004.

She continued: However, we very much look forward to returning to Burma once the British public demands it back, which we expect to happen as soon as democracy is restored in Burma.

Kuoni's move follows pressure from the Burma Campaign UK and Friends of the Earth, both of which - in conjunction with Burma's democracy movement - are calling for a boycott of companies doing business with what they call one of the most brutal military dictatorships in the world.

Yvette Mahon, director of the Burma Campaign UK, welcomed Kuoni's action and said: Tourism is a vital source of income for the dictatorship. This sends a strong message to other tour operators that they should get out too.

She added that the organisation was now going to turn its attention to Sea Containers/Orient Express, which also has operations in Burma. Details: www.kuoni.com / www.burmacampaign.org.uk