WASHINGTON - UNITED States President Barack Obama will make a personal plea for the release of Myanmarese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at his summit with Asean leaders in Singapore on Sunday, a senior Administration official told The Straits Times.

Asked if Mr Obama will press for the freedom of the jailed opposition leader, the official said in an interview on Monday: 'I think he will. That will be in the context of all political prisoners. Of course, she is the most prominent among them. He will probably mention her by name.'

The US has always allied with international calls for Ms Suu Kyi's release but lending Mr Obama's considerable personal heft to the appeal is likely to turn up the pressure on the junta.

Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate, has been under house arrest for the past 14 years. Her National League for Democracy won Myanmar's last elections in 1990 but the military junta refused to recognise the result.

Yangon periodically hints at her release. On Monday, a foreign ministry official said there was a plan to release her 'soon' ahead of elections next year.

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.