Burma's national police chief says 15 dissidents have been arrested in
connection with a plot to plant bombs during the visit of U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last month.
At a news conference
Friday, Burma Police Chief Khin Yi linked the bomb plotters to a number
of dissident organizations, including the party of detained opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A lawyer for the opposition leader denied that
charge.
Khin Yi also said at least 20 security personnel have
been demoted - and some jailed - for allowing an American to enter
Aung San Suu Kyi's home earlier this year.
John Yettaw swam
uninvited to the opposition leader's lakeside Rangoon home in early
May, and stayed there for two days with her permission. The incident
led to Aung San Suu Kyi's arrest on charges of violating the terms of
her house arrest.
The opposition leader has spent the last two
months at Rangoon's Insein prison where she was put on trial. The court
is expected to hand down its verdict on August 11.
The
64-year-old Nobel Peace laureate, who has spent 14 of the last 19 years
in some form of detention, faces up to five years in prison.
Sources
say Yettaw was admitted to Rangoon General Hospital Monday after
suffering seizures. His condition is said to be improving. Yettaw is
reported to have diabetes and other illnesses.
Yettaw, along
with two of Aung San Suu Kyi's live-in companions, is also being tried
in the case. He testified he swam to her home to warn her of a vision
he had that she would be assassinated.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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