Suu Kyi optimistic on Myanmar talks

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YANGON, Nov 9 (Agencies): Detained Myanmar opposition head Aung San Suu Kyi is "very optimistic" about prospects of the U.N.-promoted process for reconciliation between the military government and pro-democracy forces, top members of her party said Friday. Three executive members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy and a party spokesman were allowed to meet Suu Kyi on Friday for the first time in more than three years.
Their meeting was permitted by the government after U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari on Thursday completed a six-day visit to Myanmar to promote a dialogue between the ruling junta and Suu Kyi.
Party spokesman Nyan Win, speaking after he and his colleagues met for about an hour with Suu Kyi, said she believes the military authorities now have the will to achieve national reconciliation
Suu Kyi has been in government detention for 12 of the past 18 years, and continuously since May 2003.
Suu Kyi also held talks with Aung Kyi, who was appointed the junta's "minister for relations" with the former Nobel Peace Prize winner last month amid global outrage over the government's brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
The generals unexpectedly announced Thursday that Suu Kyi would be allowed to meet with her party's top officials.
Their statement, broadcast on state radio and television, came just hours after the U.N.'s Gambari ended his second mission to broker negotiations between the military regime and pro-democracy leaders.
Gambari met with Suu Kyi for an hour Thursday and released a statement on her behalf after leaving the country.