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UN leader presses Burmese junta No Suu Kyi meeting for UN chief
(30 minutes 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. Burma's junta has refused to allow visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to meet jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
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 was told of the refusal when he held a second round of talks with military leader Gen Than Shwe.
Mr Ban first met Burmese military leader Gen Than Shwe on Friday. "I'm deeply disappointed," he told reporters. "I'm very sorry to report to you that this is not possible."
Ms Suu Kyi's trial on charges of breaking the terms of her house arrest has been postponed again. Ms Suu Kyi's trial on charges of breaking the terms of her house arrest was postponed again on Friday.
A BBC correspondent says this delays suggest Burma's military rulers may be having second thoughts about the trial. Mr Ban said Than Shwe had told him during their 30-minute meeting, in the remote administrative capital Nay Pyi Taw, that Ms Suu Kyi was on trial and he did not want to interfere with the judicial process.
Two-hour meeting The UN leader later left for Burma's main city, Rangoon.
Mr Ban's first, two-hour meeting with Gen Than Shwe took place in the remote administrative capital Nay Pyi Taw on Friday. Mr Ban's had a two-hour meeting with Gen Than Shwe 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 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.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.
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.