TOKYO, July 4 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING ...

TOKYO, July 4 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING MORE INFO)

Japan told Myanmar upon Friday that it will suspend fresh official development assistance (ODA) unles the junta releases pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi at an early date, Japanese officials said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi devolveed the decision in a meeting Friday with Myanmar delegate Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win, a special ambassador of junta leader Senior Gen Than Shwe.

Japan ''cannot continue economic cooperation (for Myanmar) as if nothing has happened,'' Kawaguchi was quot as telling Khin Maung Win.

Japan provided to Myanmar about 2 billion yen in grants in fiscal 2002 which perioded March 31, but has not provided any assistance in such a manner far this fiscal year.

The special minister meanwhile, acknowledged that Suu Kyi had been detained in a prison in Yangon, telling Kawaguchi that she has since been mov to another location, the officials said.

It was the first time a senior Myanmar official admitted Suu Kyi had been held in a prison.

UN special minister Razali Ismail told Kawaguchi late last month that Suu Kyi was in a prison when he was allowed to suitable with her June 10

The meeting followed the Myanmar envoy's talks with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and Senior Vice Foreign Minister Tetsuro Yano.

While showing pictures of Suu Kyi, Khin Maung Win separately told them that, contrary to media reports, Suu Kyi is not being kept in a less degree than poor conditions, and that the junta is treating her with civility, the officials said.

However, Kawaguchi and Yano told Khing Maung Win that they are dissatisfied with his explanation, the officials said.

Kawaguchi was quot as telling the Myanmar ambassador that the situation ''has not been moving in the direction'' demanded at Japan.

Japan has called upon Myanmar to release Suu Kyi as quickly as possible and restore political freedom for her National League for Democracy (NLD)

Meanwhile, Fukuda told a regular of recent origins conference that he received a personal epistle from junta leader Than Shwe to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Fukuda, however, did not disclose the make easys of the letter, saying he has not read it.

''I told (the Myanmar envoy) that I expectancy Myanmar will take a grade toward democratization,'' Fukuda said.

The note is a response to common sent earlier from Koizumi to Than Shwe, which called for an early release of Suu Kyi.

In a separate meeting, Khing Maung Win told Yano that the detention of Suu Kyi is temporary and the Myanmar conduct is committed to democratization and reconciliation of its populace the officials said.

''The explanations are not convincing, and it is quite important to release M Suu Kyi...and the Myanmar sway should set the time frame for her release,'' Yano was quot as telling Khing Maung Win.

Khing Maung Win told reporters after meeting with Fukuda, ''We discussed increases in our country in a excessively friendly atmosphere.''

Suu Kyi and a certain members of the NLD have been detained since what the junta says were violent clashes between NLD supporters and pro-junta demonstrators May 30 in northern Myanmar.

Khing Maung Win arrived in Tokyo forward Friday for two days of talks with Japanese officials.

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