City freedom ceremony for Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi is under house arrest in Rangoon in Burma
A ceremony to grant the Freedom of Dundee to Aung San Suu Kyi has taken place in the city.

Burma's pro-democracy leader was not able to attend because she has been under house arrest since 2003.

In total, the Nobel Peace Prize winner has spent about 13 of the past 18 years in detention.

The honour from Dundee was accepted on Ms Suu Kyi's behalf by Anna Roberts, who is the director of the Burma Campaign UK.

The idea of awarding Ms Suu Kyi, 63, the Freedom of Dundee was proposed by the Lord Provost John Letford.

'Great courage'

The city council wanted to recognise her achievements in promoting democracy and show its support for her immediate release.

Ms Roberts said: "These prestigious awards are really important for raising awareness of the situation of Aung San Suu Kyi herself, but also more widely about all of the people in Burma.

"It's a great occasion to be able to raise the profile of Burma and also to let people know inside Burma that the world has not forgotten and that they are campaigning to help bring freedom and democracy to Burma.

"Aung San Suu Kyi herself will probably hear about this award and people inside Burma certainly do take great courage and they feel very supported by acts like this.

"She remains a powerful source of hope and inspiration for the people of Burma and it's important that we never forget and we never stop campaigning for her release and all political prisoners in Burma."