UN envoy arrives in Burma for talks

UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Burma Friday to scout the possibility of a visit there by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, according to Reuters.

After arriving in Rangoon on Friday, Gambari, who was on his eighth visit to the country, was to meet with officials from the military government.

However, it was not clear if he would get to see jailed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 63, on his two-day visit.

Her trial — on charges that she broke the terms of her house arrest in May by letting American John Yettaw stay in her lakeside Rangoon home for two days — was adjourned Friday until July 3.

Yettaw, who allegedly has links to Burmese exile groups in Thailand, is also on trial over his unannounced visit.

However, observers maintain the charges against Suu Kyi are bogus — designed to keep her in prison until after next year's election in Burma, also known as Myanmar. Suu Kyi, whose latest detention had been set to end May 27, could face a prison term of up to five years if convicted.

She has already spent more than 13 of the last 19 years, including the past six, in detention without trial for her non-violent promotion of democracy.

Ban is expected to decide whether to visit Burma — to push for the release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners — after being briefed by Gambari.