President Obama: Release Aung San Suu Kyi

May 27, 2009, 0:56 GMT

Washington - US President Barack Obama called late Tuesday for Myanmar's military regime to 'immediately and unconditionally' release pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi from detention.

In a statement issued by the White House, Obama repeated the United Nations Security Council's call last week for the release of all political prisoners in Myanmar, which was formerly called Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, leads the National League for Democracy.

'I strongly condemn her house arrest and detention, which have also been condemned around the world,' Obama said.

'The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued opinions affirming that the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi dating back to 2003 is arbitrary, unjustified, and in contravention of Burma's own law.'

Obama called the current court case against her a 'show trial based on spurious charges.'

The trial casts 'serious doubt on the Burmese regime's willingness to be a responsible member of the international community. This is an important opportunity for the government in Burma to demonstrate that it respects its own laws and its own people, is ready to work with the National League for Democracy and other ethnic and opposition groups, and is prepared to move toward reconciliation.'