Australia voices 'grave concern' over Suu Kyi

Australia voiced "grave concern" over Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she marked her 64th birthday in prison on Friday.

Australia voiced "grave concern" over Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she marked her 64th birthday in prison on Friday.

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Foreign Minister Stephen Smith called for the immediate release of the Nobel peace prize winner and said Australia would be closely watching the resumption of her trial this month.

"I again restate Australia's grave concern at her treatment at the hands of the Burmese military regime," Smith said in a statement. "Australia stands with Aung San Suu Kyi and hopes she will celebrate her next birthday in freedom."

Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the past 19 years in detention and is now being held in Yangon's notorious Insein Prison during her trial for a bizarre incident in which an American man swam to her home.