The deputy chief of mission at the Myanmar embassy in Washington, who had previously served in New Delhi, has defected and is now seeking political asylum in the United States saying he fears for his life back home, a media report said today.

Deputy Chief of Mission Kyaw Win, 59, told Radio Free Asia , which is funded by US Congress, that he made the decision to leave the Myanmar government because he saw little hope for the country's future and also he fears that "his life and those of his family were in danger."

Kyaw Win said that after Myanmar held historic elections last November, he expected the government to begin a transition to democracy. Instead, he told RFA, nothing has changed and the military continues to hold uncontested power.