Manila: The Philippine government led members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in calling on Myanmar's military leaders to reverse their decision to extend the house arrest of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a senior Philippine official said.

"The Philippines joins the call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners [in Myanmar]," said Philippine foreign affairs secretary Alberto Romulo in a statement.

"The Philippines deeply regrets the Myanmar government's decision to extend her house arrest. We urge the Myanmar government to reconsider its decision," said Romulo. Releasing Myanmar's democracy leader "will [only] help hasten the attainment of a truly caring and sharing Asean community," Romulo argued, adding it will (also) "enable the Myanmar government to engage all of its stakeholders in inclusive and constructive dialogue towards nation building at the soonest possible time".

Criticising Myanmar, Romulo said that delaying Aung San Suu Kyi's release "reflects the Myanmar government's unwillingness to demonstrate its genuine commitment to full democratisation and national reconciliation. And it is an impediment to the achievement of Myanmar Roadmap to Democracy".

First time

It was the first time for a Philippine government official to call on all other Asean leaders to rally behind Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize laureate.

Philippine senators and congressmen have made the same appeal before.

In January, Asean leaders did not mention her name when they asked Myanmar to release an estimated 1,100 political detainees and "make greater progress towards national reconciliation".

With inputs from Estrella Torres