Burma's silent symbol of hope

When Aung San Suu Kyi emerged briefly from house arrest for the first time in four years last Saturday, it sent a powerful message to the Burmese people.

Protest supporter wears a t-shirt of Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon - 25/09/07

The fact that the military leadership had allowed the country's most important symbol of peaceful resistance to pray with monks marching in support of democracy arguably strengthened the campaign.

Having kept her hidden away from the world for more than 11 of the past 18 years, Burmese watchers say they are surprised the government allowed her to appear at the gates of her Rangoon home at all.