Burma's Suu Kyi in diplomat talks

Ms Suu Kyi is under renewed house arrest in Rangoon

Burma's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been allowed by ruling generals to meet top Western diplomats.

The Rangoon talks focused on the long-standing Western sanctions.

Ms Suu Kyi met the UK ambassador and the deputy heads of the Australian and US missions for talks lasting an hour at a state guesthouse.

The US recently announced a change of policy, saying it would pursue dialogue with the military regime while maintaining sanctions.

Reports suggest Ms Suu Kyi has softened her views on sanctions in recent times, concluding they are adversely affecting the lives of ordinary Burmese while the military rulers still manage to conduct trade with China and other neighbours.

New approach?

British ambassador Andrew Heyn said the meeting was a "fact-finding mission" by Ms Suu Kyi.

"Her objective is to try to get a clear picture of sanctions - what sanctions are and the impact of sanctions," the ambassador said after the meeting.

She seemed "very healthy and very engaged," he said.

Burma has been ruled by its military since 1962

Friday's meeting was the latest in a series of carefully choreographed talks that may represent the start of a new approach, says the BBC's South East Asia correspondent, Rachel Harvey.

But exactly what form that new approach might take and where it might lead is very much open to question, she says.

Ms Suu Kyi is under renewed house arrest in Rangoon, after a court rejected her appeal against an additional 18-month sentence.

Last month, Ms Suu Kyi sent a letter to junta leader Senior General Than Shwe saying she was ready to co-operate with the government to have sanctions lifted and seeking permission to meet Western diplomats to discuss the issue.

FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service

In the last week, she has had two meetings with a member of the country's ruling military government - Aung Kyi - for the first time since early 2008.

Recently, a senior US official confirmed he had met a Burmese government minister in New York - the first such contact in more than 10 years.

Aung San Suu Kyi's party won Burma's last elections in 1990 but was never allowed to take power.

Observers believe Burma's military authorities want to keep the pro-democracy leader in detention until after polls scheduled for next year.