YANGON - UN SECRETARY General Ban Ki Moon arrived in Myanmar's commercial hub Yangon Friday for talks with the ruling junta aimed at seeking the release of political prisoners, local officials said.

'Mr Ban Ki Moon has arrived,' one official said after Mr Ban touched down on a commercial flight from Singapore for a two-day visit that will include a meeting with military ruler Than Shwe.

Mr Ban said ahead of his arrival that he would seek a meeting with jailed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and would press Myanmar's rulers to free political prisoners including the Nobel Peace laureate.

He is due to meet Senior General Than Shwe and members of opposition parties including Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), but there are no plans yet for him to meet her, officials said.

The 64-year-old was transferred from house arrest to prison in May to face trial on charges of breaching the terms of her detention after an American man swam to her house. She faces up to five years in jail if convicted.

Speaking to reporters earlier in Singapore ahead of his departure, Mr Ban said he hoped to meet the democracy leader, but had to speak to senior junta members first.

'I will try to meet with representatives of all registered political parties including Aung San Suu Kyi... But I have to raise this issue with the Senior General directly, in person.'

Mr Ban said part of his mission was to 'convey the concerns of the international community about the slow pace of the political reconciliation and democratisation process.

'Through my meetings... I will convey exactly what the international community expects and wishes (regarding) the way they want to see changes in Myanmar.' Human Rights Watch said Mr Ban should not accept the return of Ms Suu Kyi to house arrest, instead of imprisonment, as a sign of a successful visit.

'Time and again, the UN has politely requested Aung San Suu Kyi's release, but her 'release' back to house arrest would be a huge failure,' Kenneth Roth, New York-based HRW's executive director, said in a statement.

'Ban Ki Moon has offered Burma's generals a roadmap to ending their international isolation... He should make it clear that the time for stalling and playing games is over and that real change is needed now.' -- AFP