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YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar says it is sad and regrettable that the United States has placed the country on its list of the world's worst human trafficking offenders, a move that was welcomed by rights groups as long overdue. The demotion came Thursday when the U.S. State Department released its closely watched annual Trafficking in Persons report, which examines 188 governments' efforts in combating modern-day slavery. The department says forced labor persists and that military and children are still being recruited into the armed forces. It says Myanmar's denial of legal status to minority Rohingya Muslims also increased their vulnerability to trafficking. Myanmar's presidential spokesman Zaw Htay said Friday it was "very sad" the U.S. had not recognized Myanmar's progress. The report places Myanmar alongside countries like Iran, North Korea and Syria.

Myanmar decries demotion on US human trafficking blacklist