Myanmar junta rejects appeal for Suu Kyi release

Myanmar's junta has rejected an appeal to free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose most recent period of detention will

expire May 27, her party spokesman said Tuesday.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has spent more than 13 of the last 19 years, including the past six, under house arrest in Yangon despite international pressure for her release.

National League for Democracy spokesman Nyan Win said the
 letter stated that ``grounds for her appeal were not strong enough.''

``The rejection is not fair because the appeal was not given a proper and full hearing,'' he said.

Suu Kyi's lawyer, Kyi Win, in October last year filed an appeal with the military government against her detention based on nine reasons, including one asserting that ``she was never a threat to the security of the state.''

Her house arrest was extended by one year in May last year, an apparent violation of a law that stipulates that no one can be held longer than five years without being released or put on trial.

Nyan Win said he is still hopeful Suu Kyi will be freed later this month when her six-year detention expires, although there were no indications that she would be released.