Trial of Burma's pro-democracy leader begins

The court hearing the case of Burma's jailed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi rejected a request Monday for an open trial that would have allowed the media and public to observe the proceedings.

Suu Kyi's lawyers told reporters that a request for an open trial was rejected during what was a largely procedural session in the closed Rangoon courtroom.

Nyan Win, one of Suu Kyi's four lawyers and a spokesman for the National League of Democracy, said the request was denied "for security reasons."

The defence intends to repeat its request for an open trial, Nyan Win said.

More than 100 Suu Kyi supporters, including Buddhist monks and members of the National League for Democracy, gathered outside the notorious Insein prison on Monday vowing to stage a protest until she is freed.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is charged with violating the terms of her detention after American John William Yettaw, 53, swam across a lake and allegedly snuck into her home for two days.

According to Suu Kyi's restriction order, she is prohibited from having contact with embassies and political parties and she is barred from communicating with the outside world.

She faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison if convicted.

Suu Kyi, 63, has spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention without trial for her non-violent promotion of democracy in Burma, also known as Myanmar. 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.

She is being tried along with Yettaw and two female assistants who have lived at her home since 2003.

Diplomats denied access to prison

U.S. Embassy spokesman Drake Wiesert said it was unclear if consular officials will be allowed to attend the trial.

Diplomats from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Australia have been barred from entering the prison. But the U.S. consul was initially allowed to enter because Yettaw is also being tried.

Yettaw is facing charges of illegally entering a restricted zone and breaking immigration laws.

Lt.-Col. Zaw Min Aung, who signed the official criminal complaint on the case, testified as a prosecution witness on Monday.

According to the police complaint, Suu Kyi allowed Yettaw to "stay at her residence until the night of May 5, 2009, spoke with him and provided him food and drinks."

The prosecution is expected to call 22 witnesses during the trial, which is scheduled to resume on Tuesday.

'No breach,' says defence

Suu Kyi has maintained her innocence.

She had told Yettaw to leave but he refused, said lawyer Kyi Win. She did not report him to authorities because "she did not want anybody to get into trouble because of her," he said.

"After listening to the sequence of events, it is very clear that there is no breach of conditions of her restrictions," said Kyi Win.

Suu Kyi is anxious to tell her side of the story, he said. "She has always been ready to tell the truth."

World leaders have denounced charges against Suu Kyi as an attempt by the junta to silence its chief opponent ahead of 2010 elections.

Protests have been stated across Asia demanding Suu Kyi be freed.

High security was set up outside the prison where Suu Kyi is being held during her trial.

Security forces blocked all roads leading into the prison and riot police were stationed at several key intersections in Rangoon on Monday.