Yangon arrests another two democracy activists

The junta began detaining pro-democracy activists on May 15, in an apparent crackdown ahead of a May 27 review of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest, which is expected to be extended further by the military-run state.

"Two NLD members were taken by the authorities on Monday for no reason," said Myint Thein, spokesman of the NLD, which won elections here in 1990 but was never allowed to take office.

He said one woman was arrested in Yangon as she led a prayer vigil for Aung San Suu Kyi, and a man was arrested at a different location in the city.

At least 60 pro-democracy activists have been detained in the past week as they went to pagodas to pray for Aung San Suu Kyi's release, and 45 people, mostly NLD members, remain in custody.

"We haven't got any information on those arrested people," Myint Thein said.

Despite the spate of arrests, the NLD is continuing its daily prayer vigils for 61-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi, which began on May 1.

Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has spent most of the last 17 years under house arrest at her lakeside Yangon home, where she has little contact with the outside world apart from a live-in maid and visits by her doctor.

Calls for her release from world leaders past and present, as well as human rights advocates, have been growing ahead of the review date, but there are few signs Myanmar's military leaders plan to free her.