The detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is "very optimistic" about the UN-promoted process for reconciliation between the military junta and pro-democracy forces, leading members of her party said today.
The comments came after three executive members of the National League for Democracy, along with a party spokesman, were allowed to meet her for the first time in more than three years.
Burma's government allowed the meeting after the UN special envoy to the country, Ibrahim Gambari, completed a six-day visit to promote a dialogue between the ruling junta and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Party spokesman Nyan Win, speaking after he and his colleagues had met the 62-year-old, who is under house arrest, said she believed the military authorities now had the will to achieve national reconciliation.
Aung San Suu Kyi also held talks with Aung Kyi, who was appointed the junta's minister for relations with her amid global outrage over a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.
Yesterday, leading Burmese generals unexpectedly announced that she would be allowed to meet her party's top officials.
Their statement came hours after Mr Gambari ended his second mission to broker negotiations between the regime and pro-democracy leaders. He met Aung San Suu Kyi for an hour yesterday, issuing a statement on her behalf after leaving Burma.
"In the interest of the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the government in order to make this process of dialogue a success," the statement said.
"I am committed to pursue the path of dialogue constructively and invite the government and all relevant parties to join me in this spirit."
The statement appeared to be her first since her latest spell of detention began four years ago.
International pressure on the junta to begin a dialogue with opposition figures increased sharply after its crackdown on pro-democracy protests in September.