Suu Kyi trial opens doors to reporters, diplomats

Diplomats were allowed to meet with Burmese pro-democracy Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday following the third day of her trial for allegedly breaking confinement conditions.

The ruling military regime of Burma, also known as Myanmar, unexpectedly agreed to allow reporters and diplomats into the courtroom after previously turning down Suu Kyi's defence tream's requests for an open trial, according to Burma's Information Ministry.

Five foreign correspondents and five local reporters were allowed into the courtroom for the afternoon session at the Insein Prison prison in Rangoon. Embassies were also advised that they could each send one diplomat.

But Nyan Win, a member of Suu Kyi's defence team, said allowing a handful of reporters and diplomats into the trial fell short of the lawyers' demands for open proceedings.

Suu Kyi later met privately with diplomats from Russia, Thailand and Singapore. Two diplomats who had the chance to meet with Suu Kyi following the court hearings on Wednesday told The Associated Press, that she appeared alert and in good spirits. They asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

Global outcry

The gesture of transparency is unlikely to dampen the global condemnation of the trial, which world leaders have denounced as an attempt by the junta to silence its chief opponent ahead of 2010 elections.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention without trial for her non-violent promotion of democracy in Burma. Her National League for Democracy won national elections in 1990, but the military junta refused to relinquish power. She was scheduled to be freed May 27 after six consecutive years of house arrest.

Suu Kyi, 63, was accused of violating the terms of her house arrest after an American man stayed at her home without official permission. According to her restriction order, she is prohibited from having contact with embassies and political parties and she is barred from communicating with the outside world.

The offence is punishable by up to five years imprisonment.

She is standing trial with two female members of her party who live with her, and John W. Yettaw, the American who swam to Suu Kyi's lakeside home under the cover of darkness and sneaked in uninvited.

"Thank you very much for coming and for your support," Suu Kyi, told the people in the courtroom on Wednesday. "I hope to meet you in better days."

'Conclusion already scripted'

British ambassador Mark Canning said he saw little evidence that Suu Kyi was receiving a fair trial.

"All the paraphernalia of the courtroom is there," Canning told BBC. "The judges, the prosecution, the defence. That's all there, but I think this is a story where the conclusion is already scripted."

Nyan Win said the prosecution is rushing through its 22 witnesses and the trial could wrap up by next week.

The court heard the testimony of two more police officers on Wednesday.

An officer who interviewed Suu Kyi following her arrest told the court that she had provided Yettaw with water, salts and several meals.

The other officer showed the court clothing that Yettaw allegedly left at the home.