Junta extends Suu Kyi's house arrest by 6 months

The Nobel peace laureate's National League for Democracy (NLD) confirmed the shorter-than-expected extension in a statement issued late Monday.

"She was officially informed on the evening of Sunday, November 27" of the six-month extension, the government official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official could not explain why the latest extension was for only six months, or provide any details about the make-up of the delegation that delivered the notice.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since May 2003, with virtually no contact with the outside world. Her house arrest was last extended by 12 months one year ago.

"Hopefully the shortened period means she will be released after six months," said NLD spokesman U Lwin.

He said it meant her freedom could be tied to the junta's timetable for completing its National Convention, where hand-picked delegates are working on a new constitution.

"It clearly shows that the constitutional National Convention the military authorities will resume on December 5 will run well into 2006 and they don't want to release her until it's over and done with," he said.

The NLD is boycotting the convention, demanding that the military first release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

The convention has been widely dismissed by the international community for its exclusion of opposition voices, although the military sees it as the first step on its self-declared "road map" to democracy.