Aung San Suu Kyi denies charges

Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has told a court she did not break the terms of her house arrest when a U.S. man visited her lakeside home. "I didn't", she replied when a judge at Rangoon's top security jail asked if she had violated the detention rules. Aung San Suu Kyi denies charges In a rare concession by the regime, diplomats and some Burmese journalists were allowed to attend the trial. Suu Kyi is widely expected to be convicted at the much-criticised trial, and faces up to five years in prison. This was the first time she had taken the stand at her trial, which began more than a week ago. She was charged by the authorities after U.S. national John Yettaw stayed overnight at her home - where she has spent most of the past 19 years under house arrest. "I didn't know about [the visit] immediately. I was informed about it at 05:00. My assistant told me that a man had arrived," Suu Kyi told the court. Suu Kyi has been held at the Insein maximum security prison in Rangoon since 14 May. Her lawyers say Yettaw arrived uninvited but was allowed to stay as he was not fit to swim away, and was pleading exhaustion. The ruling generals say the incident was a stunt designed to embarrass the government. Her trial has been widely condemned around the world as a judicial charade to justify keeping Suu Kyi locked up until after next year's election. There are signs the authorities want to bring the trial to a swift end. Nyan Win, Suu Kyi's lawyer, said the prosecution had cancelled the remaining witnesses, so his client would be called to testify even though he had not had the chance for private discussions with her. Nyan Win said he was "absolutely certain" that the authorities were trying to rush through the trial and that it "could be they have already written the verdict". Conflicting reports have also quoted Burmese officials claiming the right to keep Suu Kyi detained regardless of the trial's outcome. In a statement, the military government said the pro-democracy leader had been under house arrest for only four-and-a-half years of the maximum five years - entitling it to legally extend her detention for a further six months. A senior police officer said the authorities had been considering releasing Suu Kyi as a humanitarian gesture before the visit by the U.S. national. Her lawyers have said the five-year term expires this week. Meanwhile, the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) expressed "grave concern" over the situation, a rare move by the group which usually stays out of member states' domestic affairs. Burma angrily rejected the group's statement, saying it was incorrect and "not in conformity with Asean practice" and accused Thailand, current chair of Asean, of interfering in Burma's internal affairs.

Aung San Suu Kyi denies charges

In a rare concession by the regime, diplomats and some Burmese journalists were allowed to attend the trial.

Suu Kyi is widely expected to be convicted at the much-criticised trial, and faces up to five years in prison.

This was the first time she had taken the stand at her trial, which began more than a week ago.

She was charged by the authorities after U.S. national John Yettaw stayed overnight at her home - where she has spent most of the past 19 years under house arrest.

"I didn't know about [the visit] immediately. I was informed about it at 05:00. My assistant told me that a man had arrived," Suu Kyi told the court.

Suu Kyi has been held at the Insein maximum security prison in Rangoon since 14 May.

Her lawyers say Yettaw arrived uninvited but was allowed to stay as he was not fit to swim away, and was pleading exhaustion.

The ruling generals say the incident was a stunt designed to embarrass the government.

Her trial has been widely condemned around the world as a judicial charade to justify keeping Suu Kyi locked up until after next year's election.

There are signs the authorities want to bring the trial to a swift end.

Nyan Win, Suu Kyi's lawyer, said the prosecution had cancelled the remaining witnesses, so his client would be called to testify even though he had not had the chance for private discussions with her.

Nyan Win said he was "absolutely certain" that the authorities were trying to rush through the trial and that it "could be they have already written the verdict".

Conflicting reports have also quoted Burmese officials claiming the right to keep Suu Kyi detained regardless of the trial's outcome.

In a statement, the military government said the pro-democracy leader had been under house arrest for only four-and-a-half years of the maximum five years - entitling it to legally extend her detention for a further six months.

A senior police officer said the authorities had been considering releasing Suu Kyi as a humanitarian gesture before the visit by the U.S. national.

Her lawyers have said the five-year term expires this week.

Meanwhile, the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) expressed "grave concern" over the situation, a rare move by the group which usually stays out of member states' domestic affairs.

Burma angrily rejected the group's statement, saying it was incorrect and "not in conformity with Asean practice" and accused Thailand, current chair of Asean, of interfering in Burma's internal affairs.