Speaking at a meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and EU ministers in the Cambodian capital, Maung Myint said the charges against the pro-democracy icon were an 'internal legal issue'.

'It is not political, it is not a human rights issue. So we don't accept pressure and interference from abroad,' the Myanmar official told his counterparts. 'I expect that the excellencies from abroad, especially the EU, can understand more about Myanmar,' he said.

The minister's remarks on live video appeared to have been accidentally broadcast to reporters at the press centre outside the closed-door meetings.

Aung San Suu Kyi faces up to five years in jail on charges of breaching her house arrest after an eccentric American man swam to her lakeside house in Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city.

The statement, one of the strongest yet from the military regime, came as Asean and European ministers opened talks in Phnom Penh with pledges to boost ties with the Myanmar issue looming in the background.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong had said in a speech that the meetings would 'mark another milestone for expanding and deepening' relations between Asean and the EU.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen echoed his sentiments during the opening ceremony, but officials indicated Myanmar would likely take up much of the agenda.

Asked what the message would be to Myanmar, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, whose country is the current ASEAN chair, said: 'I think you will see in the joint statement (at the end of the day).' -- AFP

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