Aung San Suu Kyi suffers cramps in Myanmar prison

Aung San Suu Kyi suffers cramps in Myanmar prisonYangon - Myanmar's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party on Friday raised concerns about the health on their leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently standing trial at Insein Prison on charges of breaking the terms of her house arrest.

"Daw (Mrs) Aung San Suu Kyi is seriously suffering from leg cramps every day and has not been able to sleep well at night," the NLD statement said.

It added that she needed proper health care.

Suu Kyi was moved to Insein Prison on the outskirts of Yangon on May 8 to stand trial for allegedly allowing a US national to swim to her home-cum-prison that rims Inya Lake in Yangon on May 3. He departed on the night of May 5.

She had spent the past six year under house detention and now faces another three-to-five years in jail if found guilty of breaking the terms of that detention.

Her case has been labelled a "show trial," designed to keep Suu Kyi out of the political scene while the junta stages a general election next year.

Suu Kyi's defence lawyers were permitted only one witness in the trial, which started on May 11, while the prosecution had 14.

Both sides will present their final arguments on Monday.

Many Western leaders have already condemned the case, including US President Barack Obama, who on Tuesday criticized it as a "show trial based on spurious charges."

Suu Kyi, her two household aides and US national John William Yettaw stand accused of breaking Suu Kyi's terms of house arrest as a result of Yettaw's swim to her home.

Yettaw earlier testified that he had come to Suu Kyi's house to warn her of an assassination attempt he had dreamed about.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest. If found guilty of the new charge, she faces a minimum of three and a maximum of five years in jail.

Suu Kyi's trial has been widely criticized by the international community and even some of Myanmar's close allies in the Association of South-East Asian Nations who have raised concerns that the frail pro-democracy leader might face five more years of imprisonment, perhaps in Insein Prison, which is notorious for harsh treatment of inmates.

The junta has shrugged off such criticism as interference in the country's internal affairs. Government spokesmen have also insisted that Suu Kyi is in good health and receiving proper medical treatment in Insein.

Few expect next year's election to bring democracy to Myanmar, a country that has been under military rule since 1962.

A constitution pushed though by the junta last year assured that the generals would control the senate, which would be able to overturn any legislation deemed unfavourable to them. (dpa)