Aung San Suu Kyi freed

Aung San Suu Kyi was put under house arrest in 2000

The Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has appeared in public for the first time in more than 18 months after the military government released her from house arrest.

Hundreds of cheering supporters greeted her when she arrived at the headquarters of her party, the National League for Democracy, after being driven from her lakeside villa in Rangoon.

There are no restrictions to my movement, I can go anywhere I want

Aung San Suu Kyi

In her first public statement, she thanked her supporters and said her release was unconditional.

"I hope to be able to carry out all my duties for my party and my country in the best possible way," she said.

Asked when she would begin moving around the country, she replied: "I certainly have a wish to travel but it is a little bit too early yet."

She said that talks between the military government and the opposition had progressed to the stage where they could begin to tackle policy Issues.

"The phase of confidence-building is over and we look forward to moving ahead," she said.

Burma's military government has said that Aung San Suu Kyi is now free to carry out political activities.

A white Toyota sedan had brought the Nobel Prize winner to her party headquarters as supporters chanted "Long Live Aung San Suu Kyi".

Secret talks

Party members used loudspeakers to tell the crowd to make way as the car inched its way through.

While Aung San Suu Kyi was confined to her house she held secret talks with the military leadership and met the United Nations envoy, Razali Ismail.

He said her release was a big milestone.

Aung San Suu Kyi won an overwhelming victory in Burma's last democratic elections in 1990, but was never allowed to take power.

The junta said her release was "starting a new page" for the people of Burma.

News of Aung San Suu Kyi's release followed hints last week by Mr Ismail.

He spent four days in talks with Burma's junta and opposition last month in an attempt to break the political deadlock.

	Aung San Suu Kyi's political life 1988: Returns to Burma during political upheaval 1990: Her party elected to power, result ignored by army 1991: Awarded Nobel Peace Prize 1995-6: Brief release from house arrest 2000: Begins secret talks with generals  Click here for full profile

Burma has faced international isolation and economic sanctions over the issue and over its human rights record.

The government began secret talks with Aung San Suu Kyi in October 2000, a move hailed as a breakthrough. But in recent weeks, the international community has been voicing its impatience at the lack of progress.

Our Burma analyst Larry Jagan says the release of Aung San Suu Kyi was widely regarded as the single most important step the junta could take to show it was considering political change.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of assassinated independence hero Aung San, was held under house arrest from 1989 to 1995.

She was placed back under house arrest in 2000 when she tried to travel by train to Mandalay in defiance of restrictions put on her.

Her release in 1995 did not herald any political change.