The United States is voicing its approval of a U.N. panel's recent resolution that calls on the Burmese government to end human rights violations.

A State Department spokesman said the citizens of Burma do not enjoy basic civil liberties, including freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

The U.N. General Assembly committee passed a resolution Thursday that says Burma's government has refused to investigate widespread human rights violations such as summary executions, torture, forced labor, sexual violence and the recruitment of child soldiers.

The assembly also passed resolutions condemning rights abuses in several other nations, including Belarus, Iran and North Korea.

The State Department called on the governments of all these countries to respect the human rights of all its citizens. It said that they deserve to live without fear of government repression.