From right to left: Nobel Peace laureates F. W. de Klerk, Lech Walesa, Tandiwe Chama, Irish singer and activist Bono, former French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt and the leader of Italy, Walter Veltroni, 12 Dec 2008

Nobel peace laureates on Friday urged Europe and the United Nations to push harder to bring about national reconciliation in Burma and the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel prize in 1991, has been detained in her Rangoon home for 13 of the past 19 years, receiving regular visits from only her doctor and lawyer.

Northern Ireland peace campaigner Mairead Corrigan Maguire read a statement, saying, "We are here today to remind the world of her courage and of the strength of his woman, who has been unceasingly fighting for the freedom of her people."

Maguire was meeting in Paris with fellow Nobel peace prize winners Betty Williams and John Hume of Northern Ireland, F. W. de Klerk of South Africa and Lech Walesa of Poland.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sent a message voicing his support for Aung San Suu Kyi's release.

Irish rocker and activist Bono also paid tribute to the Burmese opposition leader.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.