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UN leader presses Burmese junta | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has begun a second day of talks with Burma's military leaders as he presses for the release of political prisoners. | |
Mr Ban is seeking to meet jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and says he is awaiting a reply while he remains in the country. | |
Mr Ban first met Burmese military leader Gen Than Shwe on Friday. | |
Ms Suu Kyi's trial on charges of breaking the terms of her house arrest has been postponed again. | |
A BBC correspondent says this delays suggest Burma's military rulers may be having second thoughts about the trial. | |
Two-hour meeting | Two-hour meeting |
Mr Ban's first, two-hour meeting with Gen Than Shwe took place in the remote administrative capital Nay Pyi Taw on Friday. | |
A LIFE IN DETENTION 1988: Junta comes to power after crushing pro-democracy uprising1989: Martial law declared; opposition NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi put under house arrest1990: NLD wins elections; result rejected by the ruling junta1995: Suu Kyi freed from house arrest; movements restrictedSept 2000: Under house arrest for trying to defy travel curbsMay 2002: Released unconditionallyMay 2003: Detained after clash between NLD and junta forcesSep 2003: Home after surgery, under effective house arrest UN chief's big gamble Why is junta afraid of Suu Kyi? | A LIFE IN DETENTION 1988: Junta comes to power after crushing pro-democracy uprising1989: Martial law declared; opposition NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi put under house arrest1990: NLD wins elections; result rejected by the ruling junta1995: Suu Kyi freed from house arrest; movements restrictedSept 2000: Under house arrest for trying to defy travel curbsMay 2002: Released unconditionallyMay 2003: Detained after clash between NLD and junta forcesSep 2003: Home after surgery, under effective house arrest UN chief's big gamble Why is junta afraid of Suu Kyi? |
"I told him [Gen Than Shwe] that I wanted to meet her [Aung San Suu Kyi], but he told me that she is on trial," Mr Ban later told reporters. | "I told him [Gen Than Shwe] that I wanted to meet her [Aung San Suu Kyi], but he told me that she is on trial," Mr Ban later told reporters. |
"I told him that this is my proposal, and this is important, and I am waiting for their reply." | "I told him that this is my proposal, and this is important, and I am waiting for their reply." |
Mr Ban said he had been assured that elections planned for 2010 would be "held in a fair, free and transparent manner". | Mr Ban said he had been assured that elections planned for 2010 would be "held in a fair, free and transparent manner". |
The UN chief is due to make a speech outlining his vision for Burma later on Saturday. | |
If Mr Ban is allowed to meet Ms Suu Kyi, he would be the first UN secretary general to do so. | If Mr Ban is allowed to meet Ms Suu Kyi, he would be the first UN secretary general to do so. |
Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate, has spent much of the past two decades in prison or under house arrest. | Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate, has spent much of the past two decades in prison or under house arrest. |
She was transferred from house arrest to prison in May after an American man swam to her lakeside house. She faces up to five years in jail if convicted. | She was transferred from house arrest to prison in May after an American man swam to her lakeside house. She faces up to five years in jail if convicted. |
Next year's elections are part of the military government's "roadmap to democracy," but critics say they will be a sham designed to strengthen the generals' four-decade grip on power. | Next year's elections are part of the military government's "roadmap to democracy," but critics say they will be a sham designed to strengthen the generals' four-decade grip on power. |
Opposition activists say Ms Suu Kyi's trial is designed to keep her out of the way until after the elections. | Opposition activists say Ms Suu Kyi's trial is designed to keep her out of the way until after the elections. |