YANGON (AFP)--Myanmar's military regime will allow some journalists to cover the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, an official said, in what would be the second time it has opened up the prison tribunal.
Authorities will admit 21 journalists to the hearing at the notorious Insein Prison near Yangon - 10 from local media and 11 representing foreign organizations, the Myanmar official said on condition of anonymity Monday.
It was not immediately clear if foreign diplomats would be allowed into the court as they were last Wednesday, when the junta unexpectedly gave access to representatives from all embassies in Yangon and to the media.
A western diplomat who didn't want to be named said it was "likely" that envoys would be allowed in on Tuesday but that they were still waiting for official confirmation.
A smiling, healthy-looking Aung San Suu Kyi, 63, had thanked diplomats for coming to the trial last week and said she hoped to meet them again in "better days".
But the junta closed the trial again on Thursday and has allowed no access since.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has pleaded not guilty to charges that she breached the terms of her house arrest, after a bizarre incident in which an American man swam to her lakeside house earlier this month.
The case has provoked international outrage and calls around the world for her immediate release. Aung San Suu Kyi faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
05-25-090406ET
Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Authorities will admit 21 journalists to the hearing at the notorious Insein Prison near Yangon - 10 from local media and 11 representing foreign organizations, the Myanmar official said on condition of anonymity Monday.
It was not immediately clear if foreign diplomats would be allowed into the court as they were last Wednesday, when the junta unexpectedly gave access to representatives from all embassies in Yangon and to the media.
A western diplomat who didn't want to be named said it was "likely" that envoys would be allowed in on Tuesday but that they were still waiting for official confirmation.
A smiling, healthy-looking Aung San Suu Kyi, 63, had thanked diplomats for coming to the trial last week and said she hoped to meet them again in "better days".
But the junta closed the trial again on Thursday and has allowed no access since.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has pleaded not guilty to charges that she breached the terms of her house arrest, after a bizarre incident in which an American man swam to her lakeside house earlier this month.
The case has provoked international outrage and calls around the world for her immediate release. Aung San Suu Kyi faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
05-25-090406ET
Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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