Myanmar Denies UN Chief's Request to See Suu Kyi

Pwoplw walk by a projected image of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on a screen put up...

Pwoplw walk by a projected image of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on a screen put up inside the British Embassy compound in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, July 2, 2009. British embassy in Jakarta displayed the image of the imprisoned pro-democracy leader Thursday to join calls from different parts of the globe for the military government of Myanmar to release Suu Kyi and other political prisoners in Myanmar. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

(AP)

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon could leave Myanmar empty-handed after apparently failing to win any concessions Friday from the country's top military ruler or to gain permission to visit opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in jail.

Ban talked for two hours with reclusive Senior Gen. Than Shwe in an ornate reception hall — complete with an indoor waterfall — in Naypyitaw, the junta's remote, newly built capital.

It was a rocky start to what the U.N. chief predicted would be "a very tough mission" to win freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi (pronounced ong sahn SUE CHEE), the 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has been detained by the junta for nearly 14 of the past 20 years and is now on trial charged with violating her house arrest.

The U.N. chief will press again Saturday in another private meeting, a U.N. spokeswoman said. He also will continue to seek various other reforms that include democratization, fair elections, economic cooperation and freedom for her and all other political prisoners.

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Ban emerged from Friday's meeting saying he still hoped to meet Suu Kyi before he leaves the country on Saturday night.

"I told him that I wanted to meet her, but he told me that she is (on) trial," Ban told reporters after meeting with Than Shwe. "But I told him that this is my proposal, and this is important, and I'm waiting for their reply."

It was Ban's second visit to Myanmar since Cyclone Nargis devastated much of the country last year. His first visit managed to persuade the military government to ease access for hundreds of foreign aid workers who had been restricted from entering cyclone-affected areas. He also oversaw a conference that raised up to $150 million in emergency relief funds.

However, the U.N. has been unable to budge the junta on its refusal to free its estimated 2,100 political prisoners, including Suu Kyi.

Shortly after the U.N. chief arrived Friday, the court presiding over Suu Kyi's widely criticized trial announced an adjournment until July 10. The trial had been set to resume after a monthlong delay.