Powell urges Myanmar to release Suu Kyi

"Together, we must tell the Burmese leaders to free Aung San Suu Kyi, to free her supporters, and to free the people of Burma by returning democracy to that nation," Powell told a gathering of foreign ministers, according to a senior State Department official.

"For months it has been clear that the rulers of Burma were backtracking on the commitments to open the political process that they made to their own citizens and to the United Nations," Powell told foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well 13 counterparts including Japan, South Korea and Russia.

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"On May 30, the leadership abandoned all pretence of reform when it attacked the motorcade of Nobel Peace laureate and opposition leader... Suu Kyi," he added.

"Burma is attempting to use its sovereignty as a shield behind which it can violate the fundamental rights of its citizens with impunity."

Powell hailed ASEAN's unprecedented decision on Tuesday to demand Suu Kyi's release, saying this was not interfering in Myanmar's internal affairs but demanding that it "heed the deep concerns of its neighbors and of the international community."

Suu Kyi, who has spent years under house arrest, was detained again on May 30 after her followers clashed with supporters of the military government during a rural tour.

Pressure to act on Myanmar follows a decision on Monday by the European Union to tighten sanctions on the military government by adding an arms embargo and visa bans and asset freezes on more than 150 officials in the junta.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy swept to election victory in 1990 but was never allowed to rule.