Myanmar denies UN chief's request to see Aung San Suu Kyi

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is "deeply disappointed" after the Burma junta rejected his second and final request to meet jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ban met with Senior General Than Shwe for a second and inconclusive round of talks.

“It is regrettable that he did not agree to my request at this time; I am deeply disappointed,” Ban said. “I think they have missed a very important opportunity demonstrating their willingness to commit to achieving reconciliation of all political leaders.”

Ban said he believed the military leaders refused his request because “they did not want to be seen as being interfered with or pressured from outside.”

The UN Secretary-General is in Myanmar at the invitation of the ruling military junta for talks that are expected to include the detention of Suu Kyi, as well as the detention of other political prisoners.

On Friday, Ban said he had asked the generals to free their many political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, but there was no sign yet of movement on the issue from the junta.