"I know her feelings quite well and she is a great lady. She's very serene and quite calm. Actually she feels a bit uneasy and some anger but she can bury the animosity as long as there is the possibility of dialogue. If they really care about the interests of Burma (Myanmar), why not sit down and talk?" Suu Kyi's husband, Oxford academic Michael Aris, died late last month of prostate cancer on his 53rd birthday. He had not been allowed into Myanmar to visit his wife for the past three years. The generals responded to his request to visit his wife a last time by saying Suu Kyi should visit him in England.

The1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner rejected this, fearing she would not be allowed to return. She has not discussed her feelings since, calling it a private affair.

"We have no thoughts of retaliation or a hardening of attitude," Tin Oo said. "We just want dialogue."