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Suu Kyi rallies planned worldwide Suu Kyi rallies planned worldwide
(about 7 hours later)
Demonstrations are planned in 12 cities worldwide against Burma's continuing detention of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.Demonstrations are planned in 12 cities worldwide against Burma's continuing detention of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.
Wednesday marks 12 years in detention for the Nobel Peace Prize winner, and the protests are being staged outside Chinese embassies. Protests will be staged at Chinese embassies, as campaigners say Beijing holds the key to Ms Suu Kyi's release.
Campaigners say China holds the key to Aung San Suu Kyi's release. The Nobel Peace Prize winner has been held by the junta, mostly under house arrest, for exactly 12 years.
A UN envoy is in China seeking to raise pressure on Burma's junta after last month's bloody crackdown on dissent. Australia is the latest country to impose sanctions on Burma's generals, amid global condemnation of their rule.
Burma says 10 people died during its suppression of the protests, but diplomats believe the true figures are much higher. Hundreds of people are thought to be in detention. Australian officials said the financial sanctions would target 418 individuals, including top military figures and cabinet ministers.
Pressure has been growing on the junta since their bloody suppression of pro-democracy protests last month.
The generals have agreed to another visit from the UN's special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who is currently in China lobbying for Beijing's backing for democratic reforms in Burma.
And they are also allowing the UN's human rights investigator, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, to visit the country for the first time in four years. He is due to speak in New York later.
Laureates' appealLaureates' appeal
Rallies are due to be held in London, Paris, Berlin, Dublin, Vienna, Sydney, Washington, Toronto, New York, Brasilia, Bangkok and Cape Town. Rallies for the detained pro-democracy leader are due to be held in cities including London, Paris, Brasilia, New York, Bangkok, Sydney and Cape Town.
SUU KYI APPEAL Open letter signed by Nobel peace laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Wangari Maathai, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan MaguireRallies to be held in London, Paris, Berlin, Dublin, Vienna, Sydney, Washington, Toronto, New York, Brasilia, Bangkok and Cape Town
The coalition of charities and other groups behind Wednesday's demonstrations have called on those taking part to wear Suu Kyi masks and the white cloth of Burmese political prisoners.The coalition of charities and other groups behind Wednesday's demonstrations have called on those taking part to wear Suu Kyi masks and the white cloth of Burmese political prisoners.
The detention of Aung San Suu Kyi is the most visible manifestation of the regime's brutality but it is only the tip of the iceberg Excerpt from appeal signed by Nobel peace laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Wangari Maathai, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan Maguire Six female Nobel peace laureates have jointly appealed to the UN, urging it to help Ms Suu Kyi regain her freedom.
Six female Nobel peace laureates have jointly appealed to the UN urging it to help Ms Suu Kyi gain her freedom. "The detention of Aung San Suu Kyi is the most visible manifestation of the regime's brutality but it is only the tip of the iceberg," they wrote in an open letter published in UK newspaper The Guardian.
"The detention of Aung San Suu Kyi is the most visible manifestation of the regime's brutality but it is only the tip of the iceberg," they write in an open letter published in UK newspaper The Guardian. Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a convincing victory in a general election in 1990 but the junta refused to hand over power.
Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy scored a convincing win in a general election in 1990 but the junta refused to hand over power.
The protests also coincide with the anniversary of the UN charter, and campaigners say they will be stepping up the pressure for UN action.
As they put down the recent protests, the regime offered talks with Ms Suu Kyi but, BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge notes, they have just repeated their key condition - that she drop support for sanctions against Burma.
Close allyClose ally
The UN says Burma has agreed to bring forward a return visit by its special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, and this is now expected to take place in early November. The protests coincide with the anniversary of the UN charter, and campaigners say they will be stepping up the pressure for UN action.
Mr Gambari is seeking a united front among countries believed to have most potential influence with the Burmese leaders in pressing them to allow democratic reforms. They blame China for blocking a UN resolution against Burma's generals.
Now in China, he will meet senior officials but he will not see any of the country's top leaders, the BBC's Daniel Griffiths reports from Beijing. Mr Gambari, who is expected to return to Burma next month, is meeting senior Chinese officials this week.
China, one of Burma's closest allies, has in the past said it is extremely concerned about the current situation there and has called on the Burmese government to exercise restraint. But he will not see any of the country's top leaders, the BBC's Daniel Griffiths reports from Beijing.
But at the same time China has always stressed that it will not interfere in its neighbour's internal affairs. Although China, one of Burma's closest allies, has expressed concern about the situation there, it has always stressed that it will not interfere in its neighbour's internal affairs.
It is a sign that Beijing is unwilling to push Burma too hard, our Beijing correspondent says. It is a sign that Beijing is unwilling to push Burma too hard, our correspondent says.
Burmese officials say 10 people died during the crackdown on protests in September, but diplomats believe the true figures are much higher. Hundreds of people are thought to be in detention.