Released Aung San Suu Kyi finally meets Burmese president

BURMA's government invited democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi to a meeting with the president yesterday in her highest contact with the new civilian government since her release from house arrest in November.

Ms Suu Kyi and president Thein Sein held "frank and friendly discussions" to "find ways and means of co-operation," state-run TV reported while airing video of them.

The 66-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate has repeatedly called for political dialogue with the government since her release after seven years of house arrest. If her opposition party reaches an accommodation with the government, it could allow western nations to lift political and economic embargoes on the country that have hindered development and pushed it into dependence on China.

Nyan Win, spokesman for the Nation League for Democracy party said the meeting "could be the first step toward national reconciliation".