BANGKOK, November 5 – It would be “very hard” for next year’s elections in Burma to be legitimate without the involvement of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a senior US official said on Thursday.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Scot Marciel, returning from a landmark two-day visit to the army-ruled country, said the release of the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader and other political detainees was critical for the polls to be considered fair and credible.