Oct. 2, 2009 - Lack of freedom of speech worsens the waste of talent in an impoverished country, writes new UK ambassador in Rangoon.

Lawyers for Aung San Suu Kyi said they would appeal against the 18-month sentence imposed for breaking the terms of her house arrest as world leaders stepped up criticism of the Burmese regime.

The sentence – announced yesterday after a court had initially sentenced the 64-year-old pro-democracy leader to three years' hard labour – means she will play no part in elections the country's military junta has promised to hold next year.

The 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi has been arrested by the Myanmar military junta and transferred to the maximum security prison of Insein, in Rangoon and will be judged on Monday.

She is accused of having illegaly reveived and hidden an American citizen, who had reached her home last week, swimming across lake Inye.

The American citizen, identified as John William Yettaw, is held at the same prison and accused of having violated security and immigration laws.

Aung San Suu Kyi, 63 years old, has spent 13 of the last 19 years in prison, and was under home arrest since 2003. She is now facing 7 years imprisonment.