Quiet prayers, protests as Suu Kyi turns 61

YANGON, Jun 19 (Reuters) Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi today marked her 61st birthday under house arrest while pro-democracy activists around the world staged protests against the military junta.

At Yangon's Town Hall, a lone male protester shouted ''Long Live Daw Aung San Suu Kyi'' for several minutes in a rare public protest before police bundled him away, witnesses said.

Rallies were to be held in more than 25 countries across Asia, Europe and North America to demand the freedom of the Nobel Peace Laureate, who has spent 10 of the past 17 years in some form of detention.

But their protests are likely to fall on deaf ears in Yangon, where the military, which has ruled the former Burma since 1962, clamped tight security on the road outside Suu Kyi's home.

Armed security men manned barricades and stopped traffic from passing in what appeared to be a move to prevent supporters of ''The Lady'' from gathering near the lakeside villa where she is under house arrest.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) hosted a gathering of 200 supporters at its ramshackle headquarters where nine doves were released amid prayers for her freedom.

''Let us pray for her good health and for her immediate release and the release of all other political prisoners,'' said Aung Shwe, chairman of NLD which won an election landslide in 1990 only to be denied power by the military.

Suu Kyi's house arrest was extended for another year on May 27 despite international pressure and a direct appeal from U.N.

Secretary General Kofi Annan to junta leader Than Shwe to ''do the right thing''.

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