PARIS: World leaders hailed the release of Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi from years of house arrest Saturday but warned the military junta not to restrict her in other ways and called for all political prisoners to be freed. US President Barack Obama said that “while the Burmese regime has gone to extraordinary lengths to isolate and silence Aung San Suu Kyi, she has continued her brave fight for democracy, peace, and change in Burma.” “The United States welcomes her long overdue release,” added the president, who is in Japan for a regional summit. “It is time for the Burmese regime to release all political prisoners, not just one.” A UN spokesman said Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called Suu Kyi “an inspiration” to the world. “The secretary-general expects that no further restrictions will be placed on her, and he urges the Myanmar authorities to build on its action by releasing all remaining political prisoners,” said the spokesman. “France will be extremely attentive to the conditions in which Aung San Suu Kyi enjoys her refound liberty,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a statement issued by the Elysee Palace. Any “restrictions on her freedom of movement and expression would constitute a new unacceptable denial of her rights,” he said. British Prime Minister David Cameron also called her release “long overdue”, branding her detention for 15 of the last 21 years a “travesty, designed only to silence the voice of the Burmese people.” “Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration for all of us who believe in freedom of speech, democracy and human rights,” he said. “Freedom is Aung San Suu Kyi's right. The Burmese regime must now uphold it.” In Brussels the head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, said, “It is now crucial that Aung San Suu Kyi has unrestricted freedom of movement and speech and can participate fully in her country's political process.” Similar calls came from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the governments of Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic and South Africa. – Agence France
