Brown warns Burmese junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi or face action

London, June 20 (ANI): British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday made an impassioned appeal to Burmese military junta to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on her 64th birthday, or face tough sanctions.

The Prime Minister said it was a "tragedy" that the Nobel Peace Prize winner was spending her 64th birthday behind bars because of the regime's absurd and contemptible show trial.

Brown said EU leaders meeting in Brussels had backed both tougher action and a potential visit to the country by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, The Telegraph reports.

"Today is Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday and it is a tragedy that she will spend it in prison as the Burmese regime pursues its absurd and contemptible sham trial of her," Brown said at a post-summit press conference.

"So on this day I, and all of Europe, call again for Aung San Suu Kyi's release," he added.

"The Burmese regime must know that there will be consequences for their actions so Europe agreed today to step up sanctions and take further targeted measures against the Burmese regime. We will also work with the rest of Asia to increase the pressure and I hope Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General, will be able to visit Burma soon," he said.

"So I send two messages to Burma today: to Aung San Suu Kyi: you are not alone; to the Burmese generals: the time for democracy is now," The Telegraph quoted Brown, as saying.

Brown said the text agreed by the European Council called for the "immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi." (ANI)