Suu Kyi still defiant

Aung San Sui Kyi has been camped out for four nights

The Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is continuing to defy a request to return to her home, as her confrontation with the military authorities in the capital Rangoon enters its fifth day.

Ms Suu Kyi and more than a dozen members of the National League for Democracy (NDL) have been camping in cars outside the capital after being stopped by police as they went to meet supporters.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is ready to endure all sorts of discomfort for as long as it takes

U Nyunt Wai, NDL member

A spokesman for the NDL said the aim of the stand-off was to let everyone know that the opposition had the basic democratic right to travel freely in its own country.

The United States, Britain, the European Union and Amnesty International have all protested about Ms Suu Kyi's treatment and expressed concern about her well-being.

Supplies

The 55-year-old Nobel laureate has been confined by the authorities to the capital, and it is the first time she has tried to leave in two years.

The pro-democracy leader also defied the government ban two years ago

The government says it is preventing her from travelling for her own safety, because of what it calls threats of violence by "armed separatist terrorist groups".

It also insists that Ms Suu Kyi is being provided with ample food and water, contrary to earlier reports from some NDL members that they were running low on supplies.

The US and the European Union are demanding that the opposition leader be allowed to travel freely in her own country.

Plainclothes security officials have apparently warned reporters away from the area.

Two years ago, Ms Suu Kyi spent 13 days in her car after being prevented from leaving Rangoon.

Aung San Suu Kyi

1988 Becomes leader of pro-democracy movement after military crushes student uprisings

1989 Put under house arrest until 1995

1991 Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

1990 NLD wins election, but military refuses to hand over power

1998 Stopped trying to leave Rangoon

She eventually gave up her protest suffering from dehydration.

According to the Burmese Government, Ms Suu Kyi and the other NLD members have been stopped this time for not having "proper security arrangements".

"Security officials requested them not to proceed but stay in Dala town or return to Rangoon," said a government statement.

Reports said Ms Suu Kyi and her party had been planning to travel to Kungyangon, 50km (30 miles) south of Rangoon for a meeting of the NLD's youth wing.

The NLD won elections in May 1990, but Burma's military rulers refused to hand over power, jailing some party members and placing others under house arrest.

The daughter of the late Burmese nationalist leader, General Aung San, Ms Suu Kyi was prevented from leaving her home for six years.

Although this was lifted in 1995, since then the military has constantly restricted her movements.