Sickness cuts short UN Burma trip

The United Nations human rights envoy, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, has cut short a fact-finding visit to Burma due to ill health.

The UN said he had returned to his home country, Brazil, three days earlier than planned but had managed to meet the leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), Aung San Suu Kyi.

The NLD has criticised Mr Pinheiro for spending too much time with government officials during his visit.

The UN said Mr Pinheiro had reported receiving the full co-operation of the Burmese authorities and planned to return as soon as his health permits.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service