Nobel panel urges Myanmar to free Suu Kyi

Denver Post Wire Report

Posted: 05/16/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT

YANGON, Myanmar — The Norwegian committee that propelled Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi into the world spotlight by awarding her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 called Friday for her immediate release from prison.

"Her recent detention in prison is totally unacceptable. She has done nothing wrong," said a statement from the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which rarely comments on past laureates.

The protest added to a storm of international appeals to Myanmar's military government to free Suu Kyi. She was taken Thursday from the lakeside home where she is kept under house arrest to Insein Prison to be charged with violating the terms of her detention by allegedly sheltering an American man said to have swum across a lake last week to sneak into her residence.