WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday lifted another set of sanctions against Myanmar to support reforms in the formerly army-ruled country, while retaining visa and investment bans against individuals accused of human rights abuses. The Obama administration decided that a 1996 ban on granting U.S. entry visas to the former Burma's military rulers, their business partners and immediate families was no longer necessary after two years of reforms, the State Department said in a statement.

Myanmar President Thein Sein plans to visit Washington later this month, a move that would make him the first Myanmar leader in half a century to visit the U.S. capital, the Associated Press and other media reported. A staff member at the U.S. Congress told the media that the landmark visit would include a meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House. The reported plan comes as the U.S. State Department decided Thursday to terminate a ban imposed on visas for Myanmar officials since the 1990s.

Myanmar President Thein Sein plans a landmark visit to Washington this month in a sign of US support for his reforms despite a recent surge in anti-Muslim violence, a source said Thursday. Thein Sein, who would be the first leader of the country to visit in half a century, is planning to be in the US capital around May 20 or May 21, a staff member at the US Congress told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Nobel peace laureate and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday criticized North Korea for failing to promote democracy and democratic institutions. "I am somebody who believes in democratic values and democratic institutions, and somebody who does not believe in violence, but my views are probably not exactly shared by the leaders of North Korea," Suu Kyi said at a press conference in Ulan Bator when asked about her opinion on North Korea.