A Myanmar court found pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi guilty on Tuesday of violating her house arrest, but the head of the military-ruled country said she could serve out an 18-month sentence under house arrest. The court initially sentenced Suu Kyi to a three-year prison term. But after a five-minute recess, the country's home minister entered the courtroom and read aloud a special order from junta chief Senior Gen Than Shwe.

The order said Than Shwe was cutting the sentence in half to 18 months and that it could be served under house arrest. Suu Kyi has already been in detention for 14 of the last 20 years, mostly under house arrest.

The court also sentenced American John Yettaw, who swam across a river to the Nobel peace laureate's house was sentenced to 7 years in prison, including 4 with hard labour. The order, signed yesterday, likewise reduced the sentences of Suu Kyi's two female house companions to 18 months.

Than Shwe said he reduced the sentence to "maintain peace and tranquility" and because Suu Kyi was the daughter of Aung San, a revered hero who won Myanmar's independence from Britain. Suu Kyi's trial has sparked international outrage and calls for her release and that of Myanmar's more than 2,000 other political prisoners.