Bono has praised Burma's release at the weekend of the activist Aung San Suu Kyi after a seven year house arrest.
According to CNN, Bono said that he was "feeling great" after hearing of the release of the human rights activist: "It's sort of a cautious joy, because though she's out in the world...she's perhaps more vulnerable there if they should want to take advantage of her being outside her own four walls."
However he added: "I'm very excited, very thrilled at the possibility that this might be the beginning of some sort of rational discussion with the people of Burma by the military junta.
"All of these things are bound up in the same thought for me, which is just one of freedom and equality. Our audiences have had to suffer me banging on about this stuff for a long time!”
The U2 frontman praised Suu Kyi's dedication to championing the causes of oppressed people around the world: "She is kind of the Mandela of our moment. She's a character of great grace. Maybe that's what she has in common with Nelson Mandela...
"She has just managed to just keep this kind of calm in the middle of the storm...Her struggle has become a symbol of what's best about our humanity and worst."
Bono also suggested that Burma's decision to release the opposition leader from detention signals that the country may be moving towards democracy, but warned that sustained progress will be the only true test.
He added: "For this to be real, there has to be progress toward real peace."
