US 'deeply disappointed' by Suu Kyi's arrest extension

Nov 29 (AFP) - The United States is "deeply disappointed" with the Myanmar military junta's decision extending democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest for another year, the State Department said Monday.

"We're certainly disappointed, deeply disappointed, the junta continues to ignore international calls for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and all the political prisoners, and we call on them again to do so immediately and unconditionally," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters.

The junta should engage the democratic opposition and ethnic minority groups in a dialogue that could lead to "genuine national reconciliation and to the establishment of democracy," Boucher said.

"They need to allow the National League for Democracy to reopen its offices and let their people come out and man those offices so that they can exercise their fundamental rights with the respect of the regime," he said.

The United States, he added, was also monitoring any attempts by Myanmar's Southeast Asian neighbours to prod the junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi.

The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met for annual talks in Laos this week but made no stand on the Myanmar issue.

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