Burmese Junta Defends Suu Kyi's Verdict - 2003-02-25

Burma's military government has denied opposition charges that a guilty verdict handed down last week against opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was politically motivated.

In a statement released early today (Tuesday), the Burmese government said it categorically denied the allegations leveled by the opposition National League for Democracy.

A Rangoon court last week found Aung San Suu Kyi guilty of illegally ejecting a cousin from the compound where they both lived.

The offense was punishable by a small fine or a week in jail. She refused to pay the fine and a higher court suspended the sentence, sparing her from a week in jail.

Information for this report is provided by AP and Reuters.