Paris grants Suu Kyi honorary citizenship

Myanmar's democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi, nearing the end of her triumphant Europe tour in France, accepted another award on Wednesday as she became an honorary citizen of Paris.

"You are a woman of peace and love, and this is why Paris also loves you," said mayor Bertrand Delanoehe, hailing her "tenacity" and "unshakeable faith" in her campaign for democracy in Myanmar.

In France, she was treated with honours normally reserved for a head of state, dining at the Elysee Palace on Tuesday with President Francois Hollande, who pledged support for her country's transition towards democracy.

On Wednesday, she received her 2004 honorary citizen of Paris certificate and met with Delanoe.

City Hall once honoured Suu Kyi by hanging a huge portrait of her outside the building in 2007.

Reading a statement in French in city hall's sumptuous Salon des Arcades, Suu Kyi hailed "the deep attachment of Paris to justice and freedom".

"I was surprised and happy that Paris supported my cause with such vigour," she said.