Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Myanmar's ruling junta has extended by a year the house arrest of U Tin Oo, one of the main leaders of the country's pro-democracy opposition, this according to the official spokesman for the military U Lwin. A spokesman for the National League for Democracy said it was not informed of the decision.

The nearly 80-year-old elderly leader is Aung San Suu Kyi's deputy. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi also saw her house arrest extended for an additional six months last December.

Both Suu Kyi and Tin Oo founded the National League for Democracy in 1989 and were arrested in May 2003 whilst making a political tour of the country's north.

Mr Tin Oo was initially held in prison in remote north-western Burma before being returned to his home in Yangon in February 2004.
Both the United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on the former Burma for its suppression of the pro-democracy movement.

Myanmar has been ruled by the military since 1962. In 1990 free elections were held and the National League for Democracy won 80 per cent of the vote. However, the junta refused to turn over power and has tried to suppress all opposition ever since.