Suu Kyi supporters hold massive rally in Yangon

MYANMAR: Hundreds of pro-democracy activists supported by foreign diplomats rallied Sunday near the home of Myanmar's detained Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, lighting candles to mark the election her party won in vain in 1990.

Members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), some wearing T-shirts emblazoned with pictures of Aung San Suu Kyi, gathered at party headquarters, not far from the lakeside home of the democracy icon.

They were joined by former student activists, and the crowd of about 350 people lit candles and chanted "Free Aung San Suu Kyi" as they released more than 100 balloons carrying the same slogan into the skies above Yangon.

Aung San Suu Kyi was on Friday informed that she would spend yet another year confined to her house, which police barricaded with barbed wire late Saturday, witnesses said.

Diplomats from countries including the United States, France and Australia joined the pro-democracy activists at their headquarters at midday for a ceremony marking the NLD victory.

About 300 activists then tried to march to Yangon's famous Shwedagon pagoda to hold a prayer vigil for Aung San Suu Kyi, but witnesses said they were blocked by a pro-junta group, provoking tense scenes before they decided to turn back.

"We decided to turn back to the NLD headquarters because we don't want to waste out strength for no reason," said one activist who declined to be named.

Yangon, Monday, AFP