Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary-general, has called on Burma?s military rulers to free Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning pro-democracy advocate, whose current period in detention was due to expire on Saturday.

With her status under review, Mr Annan personally appealed to Burma?s reclusive but powerful Senior General Than Shwe to recognise that Ms Suu Kyi, under house arrest since May 2003, must play a role in any genuine national reconciliation process.