US diplomat sees Burma leader

American diplomats in Burma have disclosed that a senior State Department official had a meeting on Monday with the democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

The official, Ralph Boyce, who is deputy asistant secretary for east Asia, is the first American diplomat permitted to see Miss Suu Kyi since she was put under house detention five months ago.

US diplomats say the purpose of the visit was to show US support for the recent dialogue between Miss Suu Kyi and the government.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service