Myanmar democratic activist 'in good spirits'

YANGON, Myanmar -- Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is "well and in good spirits" despite being held incommunicado by the military government for nearly two weeks, a U.N. envoy said Tuesday after meeting with the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

U.N. envoy Razali Ismail -- the first outsider to see Suu Kyi since she was detained during clashes with the government -- said he received assurances she would be freed, but it could be another two weeks.

"They gave assurances but they didn't give specific dates," Razali told reporters on arrival in Malaysia after a five-day trip to Myanmar. "I think two weeks, they should release her."

Suu Kyi was taken into custody and moved to a secret location following May 30 clashes between her supporters and military backers in northern Myanmar.

After her detention, the junta launched a crackdown on Suu Kyi's pro-democracy National League for Democracy party and refused to let her appear in public, raising fears she may have been injured in the clashes.

But Razali told reporters before leaving Yangon that Suu Kyi was unhurt.

"I can assure you she is well and in good spirits ... no injury on the face, arm. No injury. No scratch, nothing" Razali said after an hour-long meeting with Suu Kyi at a Defense Ministry guesthouse.

It was unclear whether Suu Kyi was being kept at the guesthouse or was brought there for the meeting.

After Razali left the country, Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win issued a statement saying the "safe custody measures" against Suu Kyi would be lifted, but he did not give a specific date.

Suu Kyi's plight has triggered a chorus of condemnation from world leaders, including President Bush, who has threatened more economic sanctions against Myanmar, also known as Burma.

White House concerned

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Tuesday that Bush expressed "deep concern over the recent developments in Burma, in particular the violence on May 30th" and urged Suu Kyi's immediate release.

Even traditional allies such as Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad have expressed displeasure. Mahathir urged the junta Tuesday to immediately release Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her nonviolent struggle for democracy, spent six years under house arrest from 1989 to 1995. Her party won general elections in 1990 but was blocked by the military from taking power.

A national reconciliation process mediated by Razali began in October 2000 but there is no sign the junta wants to give up power. The latest developments have further strained the hard-line government's credibility.

Until Tuesday morning, it was not even certain Razali would be allowed to meet with Suu Kyi.

Razali said Suu Kyi's detention and the crackdown on her party could undermine the national reconciliation process.

"This is a point I have made to the government and Aung San Suu Kyi. They have to get back to discussing things with each other as expeditiously as possible," he said.

Razali said the government must immediately free Suu Kyi and several other members of her party.

Razali said Suu Kyi told him her version of the May 30 clashes, but it was an incomplete picture as she was in the lead car and could not see everything.

Also, "she hasn't met up with her colleagues, so she has been incommunicado the whole time. She can only say what happened to her," Razali said without elaborating.

In his statement, Maung Win reiterated the government's assertion that the clashes were sparked when Suu Kyi's motorcade tried to plow through thousands of pro-government protesters blocking the unlit road at night.

"A melee ensued ... there was much confusion and things got out of hand," the statement said. "Finally, when the police regained control of the situation four persons were found dead and 38 persons injured."

He denied assertions by exiled opposition figures in Thailand that pro-junta thugs started the violence and that as many as 70 people were killed.

The U.S. State Department also says the clashes appear to have been an ambush by junta supporters and that the events suggest the junta has ended efforts at national reconciliation.

Maung Win denied the allegation, saying the government's "commitment to national reconciliation and democratization remains firm."