President Barack Obama has started his historic trip to Burma, becoming the first US leader to visit the once-pariah nation. Air Force One touched down in Rangoon on Monday. The president was due to meet with Burma prime minister Thein Sein and the country's revered democracy advocate, Aung San Suu Kyi. Mr Obama will close his visit to Burma with a speech at Rangoon University, where he will praise the country's progress toward democracy but urge further reforms. Mr Obama has led efforts to re-establish ties with Burma following its move toward democracy following a half-century of military rule. Some human rights groups, however, have criticised Mr Obama's visit as a premature reward for a country that still holds political prisoners and is struggling to stem ethnic violence.