Oath of office not big issue: Suu Kyi

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Thursday she was hopeful a dispute over Myanmar's legislative oath would be overcome soon, calling it a "technical problem" that should not end in political deadlock.

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Thursday she was hopeful a dispute over Myanmar's legislative oath would be overcome soon, calling it a "technical problem" that should not end in political deadlock.

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Suu Kyi and members of her political party are refusing to take their seats in parliament over the oath's wording, a move that risks unraveling the fragile and unprecedented detente between the opposition and the military-backed government.

The party objects to phrasing that obligates them to "safeguard the constitution" - a document they have vowed to amend because it was drafted under military rule and ensures the army inordinate power. The party wants "safeguard" replaced with "respect," a change made in other Myanmar laws.

Speaking during a news conference after meeting Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi, Suu Kyi said she hoped the "problem will be smoothed over without too much difficulty before too long, and that we'll be able to serve our country not just outside parliament - as we have been doing for the last 20 odd years - but also from within the national assembly."

Some pro-opposition exiles have said Suu Kyi's lawmakers are picking a needless fight.