US and Asean chair call for unconditional release of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi

MANILA - The US State Department and ​the chair of the Association of ‌Southeast Asian Nations on Friday reiterated their calls for the unconditional release of Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

On Monday, Aung San Suu Kyi met with ​Arnaude de Baecque, Myanmar's Representative and ⁠Head of Delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), after years of questions over her health and well-being following her detention in a February 2021 coup ‌that ousted an elected civilian government led by her.

In separate statements, the State Department and Asean chair both welcomed the ICRC visit and said they ⁠hoped it was the start of regular access, including for medical care, to the 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner.