191 arrested in Burmese crackdown

RANGOON - The Burmese opposition leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, yesterday pledged hold a planned party congress on Sunday despite…

RANGOON - The Burmese opposition leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, yesterday pledged hold a planned party congress on Sunday despite the military government's detention of nearly 200 democracy activists.

"To date 191 members or supporters of the NLD [National League for Democracy] have been arrested. Of the 191, all but four are elected representatives of the party," Ms Suu Kyi said.

The US, Japan, Britain, Australia and Thailand have all expressed concern at the crackdown. The US State Department said it was ready to explore with Congress the possibility of further sanctions.