Myanmar Dashes Suu Kyi's Bid for Freedom

The highest court in military-ruled Myanmar dismissed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's latest bid for freedom today, turning down an appeal to end 14 years of house arrest. The Supreme Court's decision comes as no surprise as legal rulings in Myanmar rarely favor opposition activists. Defense lawyer Nyan Win says he will launch one final "special appeal" before the court after determining why the earlier appeal was rejected.

Suu Kyi's lawyers appealed to the court late last year after a lower court earlier upheld a decision to sentence her to 18 months of house arrest. She was convicted last August of violating the terms of her previous detention by briefly sheltering an American who swam to her lakeside home. (More Than Shwe stories.)