Myanmar top leader Senior-General Than Shwe has vowed to crush all attempts of sectarians in the country in the process of heading toward the national goal, stressing the need for the people to prevent them from destroying the interests of the nation and the people.

Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council,made the remarks when addressing trainees of a course of the Myanmar and International Studies here Monday, official newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported Tuesday.

Assessing the political life after the country regained independence in 1948, he pointed out that differences arose among the people due to party splits, that a lack of security for the people due to armed insurgency of sectarians, and that national solidarity became weak owing to divide-and-rule policy of colonialists. "Those situations have caused deterioration in political, economic and social sectors", he said. "History shows that no goal in a society in which unity is in chaos," he added.

He recalled that the government has laid down the goals and objectives since it took over the power of state in late 1988 and has been implementing the tasks for the emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed nation.

In the latest move, the government has worked out a seven-step roadmap to democracy and the political process is underway, he noted.

He emphasized that peace and stability, better economic foundation of the state and its people and development of human resources are basic requirements for democratic society and democratic practices.

He called for upholding of three main national causes -- non-disintegration of the union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty -- while endeavoring to reach the national goal.