This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18529727#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi addresses Houses of Parliament Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi addresses Houses of Parliament
(40 minutes later)
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is making an historic address to both Houses of Parliament, after meeting David Cameron at Number 10. Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has made an historic address to both Houses of Parliament, after meeting David Cameron at Number 10.
Mr Cameron described Ms Suu Kyi as an inspiration for people in the UK and around the world. Ms Suu Kyi told MPs that the support of people in the UK could take Burma much further towards democracy.
Mr Cameron earlier described Ms Suu Kyi as an inspiration for people in the UK and around the world.
Her meeting with Mr Cameron followed an engagement with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.Her meeting with Mr Cameron followed an engagement with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
Earlier, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague held talks with Ms Suu Kyi and called her a "symbol of hope". The prime minister said the UK would be a "resolute friend" to her and Burma. It has emerged the government has also invited Burma's leader to visit the UK.
The prime minister said the UK would be a "resolute friend" to her and Burma. Ms Suu Kyi was greeted by applause when she was introduced to MPs and peers in Parliament's Westminster Hall by Commons Speaker John Bercow, who described her as "the conscience of a country and a heroine for humanity".
In her address she said it was important to empower the people of Burma, and now was her country's most difficult time.
She said: "My country today stands at the start of a journey towards, I hope, a better future. So many hills remain to be climbed, chasms to be bridged, obstacles to be breached.
"Our own determination can get us so far, the support of the people of Britain, and peoples around the world, can get us so much further."
Aung San Suu Kyi makes history when she addresses both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall.
But the very challenging political realities of Burma run through the business end of her day too.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said they had discussed Britain's desire to help the people of Burma achieve economic development, entrench the rule of law, build democratic institutions and end ethnic conflict - building the organisational capacity of Aung San Suu Kyi's own party a vital element.
Her April meeting with David Cameron presented another chance to reinforce this support for the transition from military rule to democracy, which has now seen Burma's president invited to Britain as well.
But for Aung San Suu Kyi there is no underestimating the significance of the address she gives in Westminster Hall - the first female foreign dignitary to do so.
She said Britain was living proof that a constitution did not have to be written down, but had to be accepted by the people.
Ms Suu Kyi said Burma's current constitution needed to be amended to reflect the country's ethnic composition. She was given a standing ovation after speaking for about 30 minutes.
It is Ms Suu Kyi's first trip to Britain since leaving 24 years ago to lead Burma's pro-democracy movement.It is Ms Suu Kyi's first trip to Britain since leaving 24 years ago to lead Burma's pro-democracy movement.
It has emerged the government has also invited Burma's leader to visit the UK. Earlier, at a joint news conference in Downing Street, the UK prime minister paid tribute to Ms Suu Kyi.
At a joint news conference in Downing Street, the UK prime minister paid tribute to Ms Suu Kyi.
He said: "Over these years you have been a symbol of courage and of hope for our people and for your people and around the world.He said: "Over these years you have been a symbol of courage and of hope for our people and for your people and around the world.
"Your example has inspired people across the world and it's inspired people here in Britain too.""Your example has inspired people across the world and it's inspired people here in Britain too."
Mr Cameron said the UK would invest in strengthening Burmese democracy.Mr Cameron said the UK would invest in strengthening Burmese democracy.
Ms Suu Kyi said the "warmth" shown to her on her journey to the UK was a good sign for Burma.Ms Suu Kyi said the "warmth" shown to her on her journey to the UK was a good sign for Burma.
"I had thought of myself as one politician travelling from one country to another but I find people have accepted me as one of them," she said."I had thought of myself as one politician travelling from one country to another but I find people have accepted me as one of them," she said.
"For this I am very grateful, not because I have enjoyed the fruits of this warmth but because it is a good augury for the future of my country."For this I am very grateful, not because I have enjoyed the fruits of this warmth but because it is a good augury for the future of my country.
"It means that my country which has long been apart from the democracies of the world will soon begin to join in this great community that will ensure the happy future of our country.""It means that my country which has long been apart from the democracies of the world will soon begin to join in this great community that will ensure the happy future of our country."
She said Burma needed investment that supported democracy and human rights.She said Burma needed investment that supported democracy and human rights.
Ms Suu Kyi's address to the Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall is an honour normally accorded only to heads of state.Ms Suu Kyi's address to the Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall is an honour normally accorded only to heads of state.
Earlier on Thursday morning, Ms Suu Kyi had arrived at Clarence House in a chauffeur-driven Range Rover to be greeted by Prince Charles and Camilla.Earlier on Thursday morning, Ms Suu Kyi had arrived at Clarence House in a chauffeur-driven Range Rover to be greeted by Prince Charles and Camilla.
She joined the royal couple in their private apartments, although no details of their discussion have been revealed.She joined the royal couple in their private apartments, although no details of their discussion have been revealed.
Aung San Suu Kyi makes history when she addresses both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall.
But the very challenging political realities of Burma run through the business end of her day too.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said they had discussed Britain's desire to help the people of Burma achieve economic development, entrench the rule of law, build democratic institutions and end ethnic conflict - building the organisational capacity of Aung San Suu Kyi's own party a vital element.
Her April meeting with David Cameron presented another chance to reinforce this support for the transition from military rule to democracy, which has now seen Burma's president invited to Britain as well.
But for Aung San Suu Kyi there is no underestimating the significance of the address she gives in Westminster Hall - the first female foreign dignitary to do so.
Ms Suu Kyi met Mr Cameron in April when he became the first Western leader to visit Burma after the country's military leaders had decided to allow her and her party to stand in parliamentary elections.Ms Suu Kyi met Mr Cameron in April when he became the first Western leader to visit Burma after the country's military leaders had decided to allow her and her party to stand in parliamentary elections.
Since then, he has championed the suspension of international sanctions against Burma, arguing that new President Thein Sein is genuinely committed to reform.Since then, he has championed the suspension of international sanctions against Burma, arguing that new President Thein Sein is genuinely committed to reform.
Mr Hague said it had been a pleasure to welcome Ms Suu Kyi to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Foreign Secretary William Hague, who also held talks with Ms Suu Kyi on Thursday, said it had been a pleasure to welcome Ms Suu Kyi to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
"She is a symbol of hope to all those people around the world striving for democracy," he said. He praised her and President Thein Sein for the progress they had made in their country. "However, Burma still faces many challenges," he added.
Mr Hague also praised Ms Suu Kyi and President Thein Sein for the progress they had made in their country. "However, Burma still faces many challenges," he added.
On Wednesday, Ms Suu Kyi, who is on a four-day visit to the UK, accepted an honorary civil law doctorate from Oxford University - where she read philosophy, politics and economics at St Hugh's College in the 1960s.
In a speech, the Nobel Laureate said her memories of her time in Oxford had helped her while she was under house arrest.
Ms Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest in Burma for more than two decades, received the advanced degree - 19 years after she was awarded it.
She worked in New York and Bhutan before settling back in Oxford in the 1980s with her husband, Tibetan scholar Michael Aris, and their sons Alexander and Kim. Ms Suu Kyi, who is on a four-day visit to the UK, worked in New York and Bhutan before settling in Oxford in the 1980s with her husband, Tibetan scholar Michael Aris, and their sons Alexander and Kim.
She became the leader of Burma's pro-democracy movement when she returned to Burma in 1988, initially to look after her sick mother.She became the leader of Burma's pro-democracy movement when she returned to Burma in 1988, initially to look after her sick mother.
Ms Suu Kyi, now 67, was placed under house arrest by the military and not released until November 2010.Ms Suu Kyi, now 67, was placed under house arrest by the military and not released until November 2010.
Her two-week-long tour to Europe - her first since 1988 - also includes visits to Switzerland, France and Norway.Her two-week-long tour to Europe - her first since 1988 - also includes visits to Switzerland, France and Norway.
Meanwhile on Thursday, BBC foreign correspondent Fergal Keane said the Burmese government had confirmed it had received an invitation to visit the UK and was "planning to discuss" it.Meanwhile on Thursday, BBC foreign correspondent Fergal Keane said the Burmese government had confirmed it had received an invitation to visit the UK and was "planning to discuss" it.
Our correspondent said he understands the visit is expected to come later in 2012. It will be the first visit by a Burmese head of state to the country's former colonial ruler in half a century. Our correspondent said he understands the visit is expected to come later in 2012. It would be the first visit by a Burmese head of state to the country's former colonial ruler in half a century.
President Thein Sein is a former general who now leads a military-backed party which won the majority of seats in the 2010 general election - a poll boycotted by the party of Ms Suu Kyi.President Thein Sein is a former general who now leads a military-backed party which won the majority of seats in the 2010 general election - a poll boycotted by the party of Ms Suu Kyi.
She has spoken warmly of the president in the past, saying he is a man she trusts in negotiations.She has spoken warmly of the president in the past, saying he is a man she trusts in negotiations.