Suu Kyi 'to leave hospital soon'

Aung San Suu Kyi has been held in detention since May

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi could be discharged from hospital within the next two days, according to her personal doctor.

Physician Tim Myo Win was speaking outside the hospital in Rangoon where Ms Suu Kyi is recuperating from a major gynaecological operation last week.

Tim Myo Win said that the authorities had not told him where Miss Suu Kyi would be taken once she was discharged.

The opposition leader was been detained since 30 May following violent clashes between her supporters and a government-backed mob.

Despite international outrage and Western sanctions, Burma has still not announced any definite plans for her release.

There has been speculation that Ms Suu Kyi's operation would provide a face-saving opportunity for the Burmese Government to allow her to return to her Rangoon home to recover, albeit still under house arrest.

Asked where she would be taken to convalesce, Tin Myo Win said that the decision was up to the Burmese authorities.

"But I have told them I need to be in touch with her for another one or two months, and the authorities have agreed to it," he said.

As part of continuing efforts to improve diplomatic relations with Burma, Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai held talks in Rangoon on Thursday with the country's military rulers.

Details of the talks have not yet been released, but a Thai spokesman said earlier in the day that Mr Surakiart planned to discuss the junta's plans to move the country towards democracy.

Mr Surakiart's visit came a day after the Indonesian envoy Ali Alatas left Burma, after failing to secure a date for Aung Sang Suu Kyi's release.

Mr Alatas said on Wednesday that her continued detention was "increasingly counterproductive" and could affect next month's Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit in Bali.