Two Myanmar citizens held in plot to hurt or kill country's ambassador to UN

White Plains (New York): Two Myanmar citizens were arrested on charges alleging that they conspired to oust Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations, who opposes the military junta that seized power earlier this year, by injuring or even killing him.

Phyo Hein Htut and Ye Hein Zaw plotted to seriously injure or kill Myanmar's ambassador in an attack that was to take place on American soil, US Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a release Friday.

According to court documents in White Plains federal court, a Thailand arms dealer who sells weapons to the Myanmar military hired the pair to hurt the ambassador to try to force him to step down. If that didn't work, the ambassador was to be killed, authorities said.

Myanmar's military overthrew the country's civilian government in February. Myanmar's currently recognized UN ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, staunchly opposed the ouster of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. In a speech to the General Assembly in late February, Tun called for the strongest possible action from the international community to restore democracy.

Myanmar's military has tried to remove Tun from his post, but the 193-member General Assembly is responsible for accrediting diplomats and has not taken action at the military's urging.

There was no immediate response to a phone call and email to Myanmar's UN Mission seeking comment.

The plot to maim or kill Tun was to be carried out in Westchester County, where the ambassador lives, according to two criminal complaints.

Htut last month was contacted by the arms dealer, who wanted to pay several thousand dollars for Htut to carry out the attack, the complaints said. Htut received a 2,000 advance on July 23, it added.