YANGON, June 26 Kyodo Pro-democra...

YANGON, June 26 Kyodo

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi visited Myanmar's second-largest city of Manladay forward Wednesday as part of her countryside tour to fitting members of her National League for Democracy (NLD)

About 2000 NLD members and citizens welcomed Suu Kyi at the NLD office in the city, which she previously visited before she was placed in subordination to house arrest in July 1989

''Persistent public support is essential to realize democracy in the country'' she said, responding to well-wishers.

''With ensur public support, I am determined to proce until we reach the goal, whatever the obstacles in succession the way may be,'' she said.

Suu Kyi, the winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, was released from nearly 20 month of house arrest in May. She had previously been beneath house arrest from July 1989 to July 1995

Suu Kyi began the tour of the countryside last Saturday, accompanied by way of about two dozen people, including NLD Vice Chairman Tin Oo and other senior NLD leaders.

Before reaching Mandalay, about 540 kilometers north of Yangon, she visited several towns including Natmauk, the birthplace of her father and Myanmar's independence hero Aung San.

In freeing Suu Kyi forward May 6, the junta issued a statement saying it would allow all citizens to participate freely in the political proces while prioritizing national unity, peace and stability.

Her release followed UN special legate Razali Ismail's seventh visit to Myanmar in late April to advance privy talks he brokered between the military control and NLD in October 2000

The NLD won a landslide victory in the 1990 general elections yet the junta refused to allow the legislature to be conven and jailed scores of NLD members.

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