Aung San Suu Kyi released from house arrest

The military authorities in Burma have released the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi hours after an order for her release was signed by Myanmar's ruling generals.

Earlier on Friday, hundreds of supporters had gathered at her political party headquarters and near her residence in anticipation.

Jailed or under house arrest for more than 15 of the last 21 years, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has become a symbol for the struggle to rid the Southeast Asian country of decades of military rule.

Several of her supporters have been gathering excitedly at the headquarters of the National League for Democracy (NLD)in anticipation of her release, some wearing T-shirts reading, "We stand with you."

A smiling Suu Kyi, wearing a traditional jacket, appeared at the gate of her compound as the crowd chanted, cheered and sang the national anthem.

"We have not seen each other for a long time. There are so many things to talk about. If you all want to listen, please come to the office [of the National League for Democracy] at 12:00 pm tomorrow," said Suu Kyi as she addressed the crowd in front of her lakeside compound.

The country held its first elections in two decades last Sunday in what the junta called a major step toward democracy.

Suu Kyi was barred from participating, prompting critics to call the balloting a sham aimed at cementing the military's power.

Her NLD party was disbanded because it refused to participate in the elections, but remains enormously popular as a social movement.

State media announced on Thursday the pro-junta political party had secured a majority in both houses of Parliament.

India today hailed the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi by Myanmar's military government and termed it as a step towards national reconciliation.

"India welcomes the release of Suu Kyi. We hope that this will be the beginning of the process of reconciliation in Myanmar," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said hours within the release of the 65-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Myanmarese exiles in India celebrated Suu Kyi's release.

Global leaders and fellow Nobel laureates also welcomed Suu Kyi's release, hoping that it will pave the way for restoration of real democracy in the country.

US President Barack Obama, who is on the last leg of his 10-day tour of four Asian democratic countries, called Suu Kyi "a hero of mine". Former US President Clinton said he is thrilled by the news of her release.

Suu Kyi, 65, plans to help her disbanded party probe allegations of election fraud, according to her lawyer, who is also a spokesman for the party.

Re-entering politics, especially in a manner that would embarrass the junta, poses the sort of challenge the military has met in the past by detaining the activist.

In recent days, the NLD's dilapidated headquarters in Yangon has been bustling with party members cleaning her one-time office and changing the curtains.

Suu Kyi's current detention began in May 2003 after her motorcade was ambushed in northern Myanmar by a government-backed mob.

The detention period was extended in August of last year when a court convicted her of briefly sheltering an American intruder who came to her house uninvited.