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Burmese Democracy Leader Meets with Party Elders

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Aung San Suu Kyi (File)
Aung San Suu Kyi (File)

Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet with three high-ranking elderly members of her political party outside her home.

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet with three high-ranking elderly members of her political party outside her home Wednesday.

The Nobel Peace laureate was taken from her lakeside Rangoon home to a state guest house for a brief meeting with National League for Democracy chairman Aung Shwe, secretary U Lwin and Lun Tin, a member of the NLD's executive committee. All three men are either in their late 80s or early 90s.

Wednesday's meeting is the latest concession towards Aung San Suu Kyi since she wrote military ruler General Than Shwe in late September offering her help in getting international sanctions lifted against the regime.

She has held three meetings with junta liaison minister Aung Kyi since October, and was also allowed to meet with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell last month at a Rangoon hotel.

Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 14 of the last 20 years under some form of detention, mostly house arrest.

She was convicted in August of violating the terms of her latest house arrest for giving shelter to an American man who swam to her house uninvited back in May. She was sentenced to an additional 18 months of house arrest.

The Burmese Supreme Court will hear a final appeal of the conviction next week.

The NLD won democratic elections in 1990, but the military refused to recognize the results. The regime has vowed to hold elections next year, but critics say the constitution ensures the military will remain in power.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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