Suu Kyi's tour 'a success'

Aung San Suu Kyi met party supporters during the trip

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's first unhindered political trip outside the capital was "successful" and she plans to make similar trips, party officials have said.

Aung San Suu Kyi returned to Rangoon on Sunday night after a nine-day tour during which she met local officials of her National League for Democracy (NLD) in several towns as well as in Mandalay, Burma's second city.

It was a very successful political trip

NLD spokesman U Lwin

Crowds of people in Mandalay had filled the streets and climbed trees to witness Aung San Suu Kyi's first political trip outside Rangoon since her release from house arrest in May.

Analysts say the military government has decided to try being constructive towards the pro-democracy leader, having faced years of international criticism.

It was the first real test of the junta's promise when it released Aung San Suu Kyi that she would be able to travel freely.

Long struggle

The visit to Mandalay, 610 kilometres (380 miles) north of Rangoon, was highly symbolic because it was there that Aung San Suu Kyi was trying to visit when she was placed under house arrest in September 2000.

"It was a very successful political trip," said NLD spokesman U Lwin.

The NLD overwhelmingly won 1990 elections but the military junta refused to hand over power.

Aung San Suu Kyi, 57, is the daughter of Burma's independence hero Aung San, who was assassinated in 1947. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her efforts to bring democracy to Burma, and has spent long periods under house arrest.

Many observers hoped Aung San Suu Kyi's release would signal a thaw in relations with Burma's ruling military junta. But so far she has been largely ignored by the regime and has met no senior generals, dampening hopes for political progress.