This news on Burma — UN Secretary General Koffi Annan has made a direct appeal for the release of jailed pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi. Annan spoke in Thailand earlier today.

• UN Secretary General Koffi Annan: “Aung San Suu Kyi has spent ten of the past sixteen years in detention or under house arrest. The government will be reviewing her status within 24 hours. I take this opportunity to appeal to General Than Shwe and the government to release her. I believe her release will facilitate national dialogue and allow the National League for Democracy to participate in that dialogue.”

Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since 2003. She leads Burma’s National League for Democracy. The group won a landslide election victory in 1990 but the military refused to hand over power.