This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8203114.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Burma to free Suu Kyi US 'guest' | Burma to free Suu Kyi US 'guest' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US Senator Jim Webb has said jailed American John Yettaw is to be released by Burma's military leaders and will leave the country with him on Sunday. | US Senator Jim Webb has said jailed American John Yettaw is to be released by Burma's military leaders and will leave the country with him on Sunday. |
| The announcement came shortly after Mr Webb held talks with Burmese military ruler Than Shwe in Burma. | The announcement came shortly after Mr Webb held talks with Burmese military ruler Than Shwe in Burma. |
| Mr Webb also met pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, days after she was given house arrest for 18 more months. | Mr Webb also met pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, days after she was given house arrest for 18 more months. |
| Mr Yettaw's uninvited visit to Ms Suu Kyi's home led to her trial. He was himself given seven years' hard labour. | Mr Yettaw's uninvited visit to Ms Suu Kyi's home led to her trial. He was himself given seven years' hard labour. |
| Mr Webb's office said Mr Yettaw would be officially deported on Sunday morning and that the senator would bring him out of the country on a military aircraft that was returning to Bangkok. | Mr Webb's office said Mr Yettaw would be officially deported on Sunday morning and that the senator would bring him out of the country on a military aircraft that was returning to Bangkok. |
| It is my hope that we can take advantage of these gestures as a way to begin laying a foundation of goodwill and confidence-building in the future Senator Jim Webb href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8203253.stm">Burmese junta's tactical manoeuvre class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8049476.stm">Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi intruder | |
| After his arrest, Mr Yettaw, said he had been sent by God to deliver a warning to Ms Suu Kyi that she would be assassinated. | After his arrest, Mr Yettaw, said he had been sent by God to deliver a warning to Ms Suu Kyi that she would be assassinated. |
| The Democratic senator, who also asked for the release of Ms Suu Kyi, is the most senior US official to meet the Burmese leader, his office said. | The Democratic senator, who also asked for the release of Ms Suu Kyi, is the most senior US official to meet the Burmese leader, his office said. |
| "I am grateful to the Myanmar government for honouring these requests," Mr Webb said in a statement announcing Mr Yettaw's release. | "I am grateful to the Myanmar government for honouring these requests," Mr Webb said in a statement announcing Mr Yettaw's release. |
| "It is my hope that we can take advantage of these gestures as a way to begin laying a foundation of goodwill and confidence-building in the future." | "It is my hope that we can take advantage of these gestures as a way to begin laying a foundation of goodwill and confidence-building in the future." |
| The UN Security Council expressed "serious concern" following Ms Suu Kyi's conviction earlier this week, while the EU extended sanctions against Burma. | The UN Security Council expressed "serious concern" following Ms Suu Kyi's conviction earlier this week, while the EU extended sanctions against Burma. |
| 'Milder' statement | 'Milder' statement |
| Ms Suu Kyi had earlier been taken to a state guesthouse near her home to meet Mr Webb, where the two held talks lasting about 40 minutes. | Ms Suu Kyi had earlier been taken to a state guesthouse near her home to meet Mr Webb, where the two held talks lasting about 40 minutes. |
| Gen Than Shwe has ruled Burma since 1992 | |
| Mr Webb described the meeting as "an opportunity for me to convey my deep respect to Aung San Suu Kyi for the sacrifices she has made on behalf of democracy around the world". | Mr Webb described the meeting as "an opportunity for me to convey my deep respect to Aung San Suu Kyi for the sacrifices she has made on behalf of democracy around the world". |
| Ms Suu Kyi went on trial in May after Mr Yettaw swam to her lakeside home with homemade flippers, evading guards. | Ms Suu Kyi went on trial in May after Mr Yettaw swam to her lakeside home with homemade flippers, evading guards. |
| She was charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest by sheltering Mr Yettaw and, after many delays, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in prison. | She was charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest by sheltering Mr Yettaw and, after many delays, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in prison. |
| Although the sentence was commuted to 18 months' house arrest by Than Shwe, it ensures the opposition leader cannot take in planned elections next year. | Although the sentence was commuted to 18 months' house arrest by Than Shwe, it ensures the opposition leader cannot take in planned elections next year. |
| Ms Suu Kyi, 64, has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest. | Ms Suu Kyi, 64, has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest. |
| Mr Webb, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs, has previously called for more "constructive" US engagement with Burma. | Mr Webb, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs, has previously called for more "constructive" US engagement with Burma. |
| He said in July that the trial of Ms Suu Kyi would make this difficult. | He said in July that the trial of Ms Suu Kyi would make this difficult. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Mr Webb met Aung San Suu Kyi after talks with Burma's military leader | Mr Webb met Aung San Suu Kyi after talks with Burma's military leader |
| A UN Security Council statement on Thursday expressed "serious concern" at the sentence and urged the release of all political prisoners. | A UN Security Council statement on Thursday expressed "serious concern" at the sentence and urged the release of all political prisoners. |
| Correspondents said the statement had been watered down from an original US draft, which "condemned" the verdict and demanded that Burma's military junta free Ms Suu Kyi. | Correspondents said the statement had been watered down from an original US draft, which "condemned" the verdict and demanded that Burma's military junta free Ms Suu Kyi. |
| The main mover behind the weaker language was China - a powerful permanent member of the council, with close ties to Burma's rulers, says the BBC's Tom Lane at the UN. | The main mover behind the weaker language was China - a powerful permanent member of the council, with close ties to Burma's rulers, says the BBC's Tom Lane at the UN. |
| Supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi were angered by the court's verdict | |
| Together with Russia it has blocked strongly-worded condemnations in the past, our correspondent adds. | Together with Russia it has blocked strongly-worded condemnations in the past, our correspondent adds. |
| The US, Britain and France were among countries to condemn the verdict, but Burma's neighbour China said the world should respect Burma's laws. | The US, Britain and France were among countries to condemn the verdict, but Burma's neighbour China said the world should respect Burma's laws. |
| The EU said judges involved in Ms Suu Kyi's sentencing would now join military and government figures in having their overseas assets frozen and travel to the EU banned. | The EU said judges involved in Ms Suu Kyi's sentencing would now join military and government figures in having their overseas assets frozen and travel to the EU banned. |
| Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is the current chairman of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) told the BBC that imposing sanctions could lead to problems and that it was important to take a balanced approach to dealing with Burma. | Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is the current chairman of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) told the BBC that imposing sanctions could lead to problems and that it was important to take a balanced approach to dealing with Burma. |
| President Barack Obama said earlier this year that the US was reviewing its policy towards Burma. | President Barack Obama said earlier this year that the US was reviewing its policy towards Burma. |
| Last month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said increased US engagement with Burma, including investment, might be possible if Ms Suu Kyi were freed. But she also warned that there were concerns over the transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to Burma. | Last month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said increased US engagement with Burma, including investment, might be possible if Ms Suu Kyi were freed. But she also warned that there were concerns over the transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to Burma. |