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Suu Kyi 'will testify' at trial Suu Kyi 'will testify' at trial
(about 14 hours later)
Lawyers for Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi say she will testify in court this week. Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been told she must testify in court today.
Ms Suu Kyi is on trial in Rangoon for violating the terms of her house arrest after a US man swam to her home.Ms Suu Kyi is on trial in Rangoon for violating the terms of her house arrest after a US man swam to her home.
The lawyers said they had asked the Burmese authorities for permission to meet Ms Suu Kyi to discuss her defence, but were still waiting for a reply.The lawyers said they had asked the Burmese authorities for permission to meet Ms Suu Kyi to discuss her defence, but were still waiting for a reply.
Ms Suu Kyi has pleaded not guilty but is widely expected to be convicted at the much-criticised trial.Ms Suu Kyi has pleaded not guilty but is widely expected to be convicted at the much-criticised trial.
Nyan Win, Ms Suu Kyi's lawyer, said the prosecution had cancelled the remaining witnesses, so his client would be called to testify on Tuesday. The BBC's South East Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, says there are signs the authorities want to bring the trial to a swift end.
"We have never had the chance to hold sufficient discussions with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," Japan's Kyodo news agency quoted him as saying. Conflicting reports have quoted Burmese officials claiming the right to keep Ms Suu Kyi detained regardless of the trial's outcome.
"We need private discussions with our client before defending her at the court on Tuesday." That the trial is taking strange twists and turns should be no surprise, our correspondent says.
Nyan Win said he was "absolutely certain" that the authorities were trying to rush through the trial and that it "could be they have already written the verdict". It has already been widely condemned around the world as a judicial charade to justify keeping Ms Suu Kyi locked up until after next year's election, he said.
Diplomats and some Burmese journalists, working for both national and international media, are expected to be able to attend the court on Tuesday.Diplomats and some Burmese journalists, working for both national and international media, are expected to be able to attend the court on Tuesday.
One diplomat told Reuters news agency they had been told to be at the prison by 0730 (0230 GMT). Trial travails
Nyan Win, Ms Suu Kyi's lawyer, said the prosecution had cancelled the remaining witnesses, so his client would be called to testify even though he had not had the chance for private discussions with with Ms Suu Kyi.
Nyan Win said he was "absolutely certain" that the authorities were trying to rush through the trial and that it "could be they have already written the verdict".
Ms Suu Kyi faces a further three to five years' imprisonment if found guilty of the charges.Ms Suu Kyi faces a further three to five years' imprisonment if found guilty of the charges.
Asean 'concern'
Ms Suu Kyi was taken to the Insein maximum security prison in Burma on 14 May after an American man, John Yettaw, was arrested as he swam away from the compound where she has spent most of the past 19 years under house arrest.Ms Suu Kyi was taken to the Insein maximum security prison in Burma on 14 May after an American man, John Yettaw, was arrested as he swam away from the compound where she has spent most of the past 19 years under house arrest.
Inside Burma's Insein prison Profile: Aung San Suu KyiInside Burma's Insein prison Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi
Mr Yettaw, who is also on trial, stayed at the house for two days before attempting to swim back. Ms Suu Kyi's lawyers say Mr Yettaw arrived uninvited but was allowed to stay as he was not fit to swim back, but the ruling generals say the incident was a stunt designed to embarrass the government.
He is reported to have told the court he had a dream Ms Suu Kyi was going to be assassinated and he wanted to warn her. The Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) expressed "grave concern" over the situation, a rare move by the group which usually stays out of member states' domestic affairs.
Ms Suu Kyi's lawyers say Mr Yettaw arrived uninvited but was allowed to stay as he was not fit to swim back, and that Ms Suu Kyi did not break the terms of her detention.
But the ruling generals say the incident was a stunt designed to embarrass the government.
Many observers see the charges as a pretext to ensure Ms Suu Kyi is in jail during elections scheduled for next year.
The arrest has sparked international condemnation, with European ministers calling for Ms Suu Kyi's immediate release.
On Monday, the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) expressed "grave concern" over the situation, a rare move by the group which usually stays out of member states' domestic affairs.
Burma angrily rejected the group's statement, saying it was incorrect and "not in conformity with Asean practice" and accused Thailand, current chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), of interfering in Burma's internal affairs.Burma angrily rejected the group's statement, saying it was incorrect and "not in conformity with Asean practice" and accused Thailand, current chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), of interfering in Burma's internal affairs.