Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has met with foreign diplomats and political aides on her first full day of freedom after 19 months of house arrest. 

At least 100 supporters welcomed the Nobel peace laureate Tuesday as she arrived at the headquarters of her National League of Democracy party. Earlier, Aung San Suu Kyi met with the British, French, Italian and German ambassadors to Burma at her lakeside residence in Rangoon. 

Burma's ruling military regime released her Monday, following months of lobbying by U.N. and other international officials. 

Political leaders around the world hailed the release, calling it a major step forward in Burma's attempt to achieve democracy and political stability. 

President Bush described the release as very positive, while the United Nations said it is a major development in Burma's national reconciliation process. 

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called on the Burmese junta to include all political parties and ethnic minorities in the country's reconciliation process. 

Aung San Suu Kyi says she plans to restart stalled reconciliation and democratization talks with the government. 

Since 1990, she was under house arrest several times, when the military junta refused to hand over power after the National League for Democracy party won the election. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

Email this article to a friend.
Printer Friendly Version