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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Burma trial reaches final stages | Burma trial reaches final stages |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lawyers for Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi have presented closing arguments, as her trial in a Rangoon prison neared its end. | Lawyers for Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi have presented closing arguments, as her trial in a Rangoon prison neared its end. |
| Ms Suu Kyi is accused of violating the terms of her house arrest in May, after a US man swam to her lakeside home. | |
| If convicted she faces up to five years in jail. The trial has been widely condemned as a ploy to keep her in custody until after elections in 2010. | |
| The prosecution will make its closing arguments on 27 July, officials say. | |
| Ms Suu Kyi, 64, has spent nearly 14 of the last 20 years in detention, much of it at her Rangoon home. | Ms Suu Kyi, 64, has spent nearly 14 of the last 20 years in detention, much of it at her Rangoon home. |
| Polls are planned by the military government for some time next year. Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won the last elections in 1988 but was never allowed to take power. | |
| 'Law on our side' | 'Law on our side' |
| Security was tight as proceedings resumed at Rangoon's Insein prison. Riot police manned barbed-wire barricades in the area, the Associated Press news agency reported. | Security was tight as proceedings resumed at Rangoon's Insein prison. Riot police manned barbed-wire barricades in the area, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
| The trial, which had been expected to wrap up in days when it started, has dragged on for more than two months. | The trial, which had been expected to wrap up in days when it started, has dragged on for more than two months. |
| Timeline: Aung San Suu Kyi trial | Timeline: Aung San Suu Kyi trial |
| Prosecutors argue that Aung San Suu Kyi must be held responsible for the midnight swim to her home by an American well-wisher in early May. | Prosecutors argue that Aung San Suu Kyi must be held responsible for the midnight swim to her home by an American well-wisher in early May. |
| Her lawyers have argued that the law she has been charged under is part of a constitution abolished 25 years ago. | Her lawyers have argued that the law she has been charged under is part of a constitution abolished 25 years ago. |
| In any case, they say, she cannot be responsible for the incident as she was living under tightly-guarded house arrest at the time. | In any case, they say, she cannot be responsible for the incident as she was living under tightly-guarded house arrest at the time. |
| Some European diplomats were reportedly given permission to attend the court session, but no foreign journalists. | Some European diplomats were reportedly given permission to attend the court session, but no foreign journalists. |
| Ms Suu Kyi's legal team were allowed to meet her on Thursday to finalise their strategy. | |
| Her main lawyer, Kyi Win, said: "We have the law on our side, but we don't know if the judges are on our side." | |
| Both sides had been expected to give closing arguments on Friday, but Nyan Win, another of Ms Suu Kyi's lawyers, said the prosecution would take their turn on Monday. | |
| It is not clear when a verdict is expected. Only two witnesses have been allowed to testify for the defence. Twenty-three prosecution witnesses were approved, of whom 14 have testified. | It is not clear when a verdict is expected. Only two witnesses have been allowed to testify for the defence. Twenty-three prosecution witnesses were approved, of whom 14 have testified. |
| Anger recognised | Anger recognised |
| BBC South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says the fact that some defence witnesses and foreign observers have been allowed shows that the government belatedly recognised the anger stirred up around the world by putting Ms Suu Kyi on trial on such bizarre charges. | BBC South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says the fact that some defence witnesses and foreign observers have been allowed shows that the government belatedly recognised the anger stirred up around the world by putting Ms Suu Kyi on trial on such bizarre charges. |
| ANALYSIS Jonathan Head, South East Asia correspondent Nobody has any reasonable expectation that the international outcry over this trial is going to produce a not-guilty verdict. The international pressure is aimed at a longer-term result. | |
| The language used by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her recent visit to this region has been noticeably more engaging towards Burma than her predecessors. | |
| There is a recognition that the hard-line approach does not work; that even if Aung San Suu Kyi remains in custody for now, governments have to think about building some kind of bridge in the event of possible changes in the future. | |
| There is no sign of it now, but after the military holds its tightly-controlled election next year, there is the possibility of some change and Western governments recognise the need to grasp those possibilities and try to build a better relationship. | |
| But, our correspondent adds, all the indications are that she will still be found guilty. Burma's ruling generals fear her popularity, and do not want her to play any role in next year's election. | But, our correspondent adds, all the indications are that she will still be found guilty. Burma's ruling generals fear her popularity, and do not want her to play any role in next year's election. |
| When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Burma earlier this month, he was denied a meeting with Ms Suu Kyi. | When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Burma earlier this month, he was denied a meeting with Ms Suu Kyi. |
| At this week's Asian security summit in Thailand, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said improved bilateral ties were possible, but she stressed that Ms Suu Kyi's release was a key factor. | At this week's Asian security summit in Thailand, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said improved bilateral ties were possible, but she stressed that Ms Suu Kyi's release was a key factor. |
| "We've been clear about the other essential steps: respect the rights of their people, release Aung San Suu Kyi, and hold open and credible elections next year," she said. | "We've been clear about the other essential steps: respect the rights of their people, release Aung San Suu Kyi, and hold open and credible elections next year," she said. |
| Burmese state media rejected her comments as "interference". | Burmese state media rejected her comments as "interference". |
| "Demanding release of Daw Suu Kyi means showing reckless disregard for the law," The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said. | "Demanding release of Daw Suu Kyi means showing reckless disregard for the law," The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said. |
| "The court will hand down a reasonable term to her if she is found guilty, and it will release her if she is found not guilty," it said. | "The court will hand down a reasonable term to her if she is found guilty, and it will release her if she is found not guilty," it said. |