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Suu Kyi's callMyanmar Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi refused to drop her demand for a meeting of an elected parliament, in her first pub...

Suu Kyi8217;s call

Myanmar Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi refused to drop her demand for a meeting of an elected parliament, in her first public appearance for two months. 8220;We are not going to withdraw our call to convene parliament,8221; she said at a briefing attended by diplomats and journalists. 8220;We cannot accept such a precedent that an election that was declared to be free and fair was held and ignored simply because the authorities did not like the result,8221; she said.

Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi8217;s National League for Democracy NLD won a landslide election victory in 1990 but the military government has refused to relinquish power. The junta has rounded up hundreds of NLD activists in recent months and is holding them in government guest houses8217;.

Scores have resigned from the party after their release. NLD leaders say they were coerced into leaving by military intelligence. The Government said activists may not be able to leave the guest houses8217; until the NLD drops itsparliament call.

Dashing hopes

Sam Dash, independent counsel Ken Starr8217;s former ethics adviser, has denied conspiring with the White House and said he warned Starr of his resignation, Newsweek magazine reported. Dash told the magazine that he resigned his job on Friday because he felt Starr had exceeded his mandate, crossing the line into advocating the President8217;s impeachment. 8220;It seems silly for me to have to tell you that I have not entered into a conspiracy with the White House to harm or embarrass Starr,8221; he said.

8220;Please give me credit, as Starr has publicly, of acting on principle, rather than crude partisan politics,8221; he told the magazine in written responses to questions. Dash8217;s departure was widely seen as a blow to the embattled Starr who was investigating the Monica Lewinsky sex-and-lies scandal.

The timing of the resignation, reportedly predicted by the White House, was seen as particularly crucial coming one day after Starr8217;s testimony at House Judiciary Committee hearings.Contrary to press reports which portrayed his leaving as an act of betrayal, Dash writes that Starr thanked him for his consideration in agreeing 8220;not to resign publicly before he had a chance to testify. It is frustrating for me now to hear claims that my timing was conspiratorial and aimed to harm Starr8221;.

Return the Elgins

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Prince Charles arrived in Greece for a three-day visit and prepared to face a barrage of questions about Britain8217;s continuing refusal to return part of one of Greece8217;s most famous landmarks. The Greek media is expected to quiz the prince about the Elgin Marbles, the frieze from the Parthenon, housed in the British Museum in London since being taken from Athens in 1806. British diplomats said the prince would visit the Parthenon to see the site of the missing frieze, which Greece has demanded must be returned.

The island of Crete will be the prince8217;s destination on Tuesday, to visit the ancient Minoan site of Cnossos, which was unearthed and restored almost a century ago byBritish archaeologist Arthur Evans. But the principal aim of the prince8217;s trip is to promote a two-week festival highlighting British products and culture in the Greek capital. Britain has steadfastly refused for nearly 20 years to return the Parthenon8217;s marble frieze, which it claims was legally acquired by aristocrat Lord Elgin from the Ottoman authorities. Greece insists the frieze was stolen.