Suva, Fiji
Temp: 77 °F / 25.0 °C
Wind: 0.0 KMH
Mostly Cloudy
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
July 31, 2009 08:14:23 AM

The United States on Thursday renewed its call for Myanmar's military regime to free democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on the eve of a verdict in which she could receive five years in prison.

"We believe that she should be immediately and unconditionally released, along with the 2,100 other political prisoners in Burma," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said, using Myanmar's former name.

Kelly said that a US embassy consular officer was present during her trial, in which a US citizen is also facing prison over a bizarre incident in which he swam to Aung San Suu Kyi's lakeside home.

Myanmar prosecutors charge that Aung San Suu Kyi broke the terms of her house arrest by sheltering the American man, John Yettaw, who said he was trying to tell the Nobel Peace laureate of his vision that she would be assassinated.

Critics say the trial is a ploy by the regime to keep Aung San Suu Kyi locked up until after elections scheduled for 2010. She has already spent almost 14 of the last 20 years in detention.

* Get the latest weather on your phone. Txt VLWH to 333 now

Post a Comment
Bookmark and Share
Posted Comments
No comments, but you can post the first comment!
LOCAL
Cyclone damage figures by next week: DISMACAn assessment of the cost of damage caused to Fiji by Tropical Cyclone Tomas will be ready next week says the Disaster Management Office.
SPORTS
Fiji bounces back to beat PNGFiji’s loss to Wales in their opening game did not discourage the Iliesa Tanivula-coached side after they ran in seven tries to beat Papua New Guinea 41-0 in their second pool game at day two of the Adelaide 7s.
BUSINESS
Steel price increase approvedSteel prices in Fiji have increased by up to eight percent following the Commerce Commission’s approval of a submission by Fletcher Pacific Steel.
ENTERTAINMENT
Playmate's heirs left pennilessA US federal appeals court ruled Friday that Anna Nicole Smith's heirs will not receive a penny of the more than 300 million dollars she claimed to her billionaire husband's inheritance.
OFFBEAT
Chilean sailor returns cashA Chilean sailor returned four million pesos (7,600 dollars) in cash he found inside an open safe amid the rubble of a house destroyed by last month's devastating quake and tsunami, local media reported Friday.
FIJIAN
Tekivu na vuli e na ciwaSa vakadeitaka na minisitiri ni vuli ni na tekivutaki tiko na vuli e na ciwa na kaloko na vei mataka, ka sega e na walu.