UN chief announces trip to Burma

Aung San Suu Kyi is head of the National League for Democracy party

The head of the United Nations will travel to Burma on Friday to press the country on democratic reform.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will urge Burma's generals to free political prisoners such as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ms Suu Kyi has spent much of the past two decades in jail or under house arrest.

The 64-year-old Nobel Peace laureate is currently on trial for violating the terms of her house arrest.

Mr Ban's trip, set for Friday and Saturday, was announced by his spokeswoman from New York.

This is also the date that Ms Suu Kyi's trial is set to resume.

The visit follows that of the UN's special envoy to the country, Ibrahim Gambari last weekend.

Correspondents say Mr Ban is wary of his trip being used by the generals to endorse their treatment of Ms Suu Kyi.

Her trial has been widely condemned as a ruse to keep her in jail during a general election which the ruling junta has scheduled for next year.