Aung San Suu Kyi 'ambushed'

Activists and governments around the world have expressed outrage

A clash in Burma involving followers of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi appears to have been planned by "government-affiliated thugs," the US state department has said.

Aung San Suu Kyi was taken into "protective custody" after the violence last Friday which the military junta said left four people dead and 50 injured.

Officials from the US embassy in Rangoon have visited the scene of the violence and found evidence of a "premeditated ambush," the state department said.

"The debris remaining at the scene suggests a major clash, which could easily have resulted in serious injuries to large numbers of people," said spokesman Philip Reeder.

Eyewitnesses estimated that more than 60 people died in the incident, which happened in the north of the country.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI

1990: NLD wins general election while Suu Kyi under house arrest; military does not recognise the result

1991: Wins Nobel peace prize

1995: Released from house arrest, but movements restricted

2000-02: Second period of house arrest

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The state department has called on Burma to "provide a full accounting of the dead, injured, and missing".

It said Aung San Suu Kyi's detention was "outrageous and unacceptable" and called on Burma to allow a visiting United Nations envoy to see her.

The special envoy, Razali Ismail, is due to visit Burma on Friday for a four-day visit.

US warning

Diplomats have been repeatedly denied access to National League for Democracy (NLD) leader, who is believed to be detained at a military camp just outside the capital.

"If Ambassador Razali is not able to meet privately with Aung San Suu Kyi, the US will need to evaluate the utility of this UN-sponsored effort to support national reconciliation in Burma," the US statement warned.

Mr Razali helped broker peace talks between Aung San Suu Kyi and the military more than two years ago. It led to Aung San Suu Kyi being released last May after nearly 20 months under house arrest, but progress has since stalled.

Since her release Aung San Suu Kyi has attracted large crowds during visits to her supporters around the country.

Governments around the world have called on Burma's military rulers to release Aung San Suu Kyi, and other opposition leaders who have been detained.

Aung San Suu Kyi has spent much of the last 14 years under house arrest.

Under her leadership, the NLD won 1990 elections by a landslide but the military junta refused to hand over power.