BBC News | ASIA-PACIFIC | Aung San Suu Kyi freed

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Monday, 6 May, 2002, 05:25 GMT 06:25 UK

Aung San Suu Kyi freed

Aung San Suu Kyi speaking to supporters in 1997

Aung San Suu Kyi was put under house arrest in 2000

Burma's military government has released the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest in Rangoon for the past 20 months.

A government spokesman told the Reuters news agency she was "at liberty to carry out all activities, including her party's" from Monday.

" Today marks the start of a new page for the people of Myanmar [Burma] and the international community "
Burmese junta

There were jubilant scenes as the opposition leader emerged from her home and arrived at the headquarters of her party, the National League for Democracy, where more than 300 of her supporters had gathered.

A spokesman for her National League for Democracy said the party believes her release is unconditional.

The junta said it was "starting a new page" for the people of Burma.

UN role in release

News of Aung San Suu Kyi's release followed hints last week by the United Nations envoy to Burma, Razali Ismail, that the Nobel Prize winner could be released shortly.

Mr Razali spent four days in talks with Burma's junta and opposition last month in an attempt to break the country's political deadlock.

Aung San Suu Kyi's won a landslide victory in 1990 but the junta refused to give up power.

Aung San Suu Kyi's political life

1988: Returns to Burma during political upheaval

1990: Her party elected to power, result ignored by army

1991: Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

1995-6: Brief release from house arrest

2000: Begins secret talks with generals

Click here for full profile Burma has faced international isolation and economic sanctions over the issue and over its human rights record.

The government began secret talks with Aung San Suu Kyi in October 2000, a move hailed as a breakthrough. But in recent weeks, the international community has been voicing its impatience at the lack of progress.

Our Burma analyst Larry Jagan has said the release of Aung San Suu Kyi was widely regarded as the single most important step the junta could take to show it was considering political change.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of assassinated independence hero Aung San, was held under house arrest from 1989 to 1995.

She was placed back under house arrest in 2000 when she tried to travel by train to Mandalay in defiance of restrictions put on her.

Her release in 1995 did not herald any political change.

Related to this story:
Aung San Suu Kyi freed: Sign of political change in Burma? (06 May 02 | Talking Point) Hopes mount for Burma breakthrough (30 Apr 02 | Asia-Pacific) Burma talks 'make progress' (28 Apr 02 | Asia-Pacific) Q&A: Background to Burma talks (24 Apr 02 | Asia-Pacific) UN envoy holds Burma talks (24 Apr 02 | Asia-Pacific) Analysis: Burma's secret talks (19 Mar 02 | Asia-Pacific) Burma's hollow gains (22 Mar 02 | Asia-Pacific) Aung San Suu Kyi meets Burma general (30 Jan 02 | Asia-Pacific)

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