Aung San Suu Kyi and eighteen members of her entourage were detained, while the entire leadership of the National League for Democracy was under house arrest in the capital Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon [AFP]

International condemnation poured from around the world after the arrest by the Myanmar military junta of opposition leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Britain summoned the Myanmar ambassador to make a protest while the United States, United Nations and European Union all joined condemnation over the detention of the pro-democracy leader.

President George W. Bush, speaking in Egypt, said he was "deeply concerned" at events in Myanmar while UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate release after she was taken into "protective custody" at the weekend following protests by democracy activists.

Late Monday, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Special Rapporteur for Myanmar issued a joint statement to "urge the (Myanmar) Government to renew its commitment to political reform and human rights."

A token of this commitment would begin "with the immediate and unconditional release of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners," said the High Commissioner's Office, and Myanmar's Special Rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro.

Aung San Suu Kyi was placed in "protective custody" at the weekend after clashes between her supporters and a pro-junta mob during a political tour of northern Myanmar Friday left four dead and 50 injured, the military said.

Some 18 members of her entourage were also detained, while the entire leadership of her opposition National League of Democracy (NLD) was under house arrest in the capital Yangon.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said Myanmar "should immediately release" the opposition leader and her associates.

Late Monday, the group said the Myanmar government-created Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA) whose members were involved in the clashes with the NLD "has increasingly taken on a paramilitary character."

Earlier in the day, Myanmar's ambassador in London, Kyaw Win, was ordered to the Foreign Office to hear a protest from Junior Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell. Australia also summoned Myanmar's envoy to Canberra.

"Reports from Burma that Aung San Suu Kyi may have been injured during the attacks cause us particular anxiety, and I have sought assurances from the Burmese government that they will protect (her) welfare and safety," Rammell said in a statement.

President Bush in a statement said: "I am deeply concerned by reports from Burma of the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her political party, as well as reports that military authorities have closed her party headquarters in Rangoon."

The statement, using Myanmar's former name, was issued from Egypt, where Bush is to attend two Middle East peace summits. US Secretary of State Colin Powell also condemned the detention.

Myanmar also shut down her party's offices nationwide plus all the country's universities.

A spokesman for the UN's Annan said: "At this crucial juncture, (Annan) maintains that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as both a national leader and the leader of the NLD, must be allowed to play a role, in co-operation with the government and others, in taking steps to bring about national reconciliation in Myanmar."

Annan instructed his Special Envoy to Myanmar, Razali Ismail, to talk to the Myanmar government, the spokesman said. Ismail is also to talk to Aung San Suu Kyi, and other national leaders during a visit from June 6-10.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Viera de Mello also demanded the release of the NLD leader.

The European Union's top foreign policy representative, Javier Solana, said Aung San Suu Kyi's arrest would reinforce EU resolve to continue sanctions against the military regime.

France expressed concern over "the fate" of Aung San Suu Kyi after her arrest, while Germany's foreign ministry called on the Myanmar government to release those in detention "swiftly".

"Furthermore, we expect the leadership in Myanmar to take all steps to allow the opposition to resume its work," a spokesman added.

Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham urgend the Myanmar junta "to begin substantive discussions on national reconciliation and democracy with Aung San Suu Kyi."

In Thailand, which borders Myanmar, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the government was monitoring the incident closely. "I think the whole world is concerned and the Myanmar government understands that," he said.

The government of Japan, the biggest aid donor to Myanmar, said it was watching events with concern.

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