Myanmar's government signed a cease-fire agreement today with rebels in a major step toward ending one of the world's longest-running insurgencies.

The talks, between officials and Karen National Union leaders, were part of efforts by Myanmar's new civilian government, which took office after November 2010 elections, to embarked on democratic reforms after years of military repression.

Last month, the US secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, made a landmark visit to Myanmar, saying the U.S. would ease aid restrictions and consider further steps to improving relations with the country's autocratic rulers if they continued down a path of political and economic reform.

(READ the full story at MSNBC)