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Suu Kyi testifies in Burma trial Aung San Suu Kyi denies charges
(20 minutes later)
Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has told a court she did not break the terms of her house arrest when a US man visited her lakeside home.Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has told a court she did not break the terms of her house arrest when a US man visited her lakeside home.
"I didn't", she replied when a judge at Rangoon's top security jail asked if she had violated the detention rules."I didn't", she replied when a judge at Rangoon's top security jail asked if she had violated the detention rules.
In a rare concession by the regime, diplomats and some Burmese journalists were allowed to attend the trial.In a rare concession by the regime, diplomats and some Burmese journalists were allowed to attend the trial.
Ms Suu Kyi is widely expected to be convicted at the much-criticised trial, and faces up to five years in prison.Ms Suu Kyi is widely expected to be convicted at the much-criticised trial, and faces up to five years in prison.
The BBC's South East Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, says there are signs the authorities want to bring the trial to a swift end. This was the first time she had taken the stand at her trial, which began more than a week ago.
Conflicting reports have quoted Burmese officials claiming the right to keep Ms Suu Kyi detained regardless of the trial's outcome.
Inside Burma's Insein prison Profile: Aung San Suu KyiInside Burma's Insein prison Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi
In a statement, the military government said the pro-democracy leader had been under house arrest for only four-and-a-half years of the maximum five years - entitling it to legally extend her detention for a further six months. She was charged by the authorities after US national John Yettaw stayed overnight at her home - where she has spent most of the past 19 years under house arrest.
A senior police officer said the authorities had been considering releasing Ms Suu Kyi as a humanitarian gesture before the visit by the US national. "I didn't know about [the visit] immediately. I was informed about it at 0500. My assistant told me that a man had arrived," Ms Suu Kyi told the court.
Her trial has been widely condemned around the world as a judicial charade to justify keeping Ms Suu Kyi locked up until after next year's election, our correspondent says. Ms Suu Kyi has been held at the Insein maximum security prison in Rangoon since 14 May.
Her lawyers have said the five-year term expires this week. Her lawyers say Mr Yettaw arrived uninvited but was allowed to stay as he was not fit to swim away, and was pleading exhaustion.
Trial travails The ruling generals say the incident was a stunt designed to embarrass the government.
Her trial has been widely condemned around the world as a judicial charade to justify keeping Ms Suu Kyi locked up until after next year's election.
'Verdict written'
There are signs the authorities want to bring the trial to a swift end.
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 her.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 her.
Profile: The US 'intruder'Profile: The US 'intruder'
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".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 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. Conflicting reports have also quoted Burmese officials claiming the right to keep Ms Suu Kyi detained regardless of the trial's outcome.
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. In a statement, the military government said the pro-democracy leader had been under house arrest for only four-and-a-half years of the maximum five years - entitling it to legally extend her detention for a further six months.
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. A senior police officer said the authorities had been considering releasing Ms Suu Kyi as a humanitarian gesture before the visit by the US national.
Her lawyers have said the five-year term expires this week.
Meanwhile, 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 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 Asean, of interfering in Burma's internal affairs.