Burma strongly rejected regional criticism of its trial of Aung San Suu Kyi as the European Union called on the ruling junta to grant the "immediate release" of the pro-democracy icon.

The military regime lashed out at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) as the prison tribunal hearing allegations that the opposition leader violated her house arrest resumed for its second week.

myanmar burma aung san su kyi trial 250509 03 Asean had expressed "grave concern" over the treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi and said Burma's "honour and the credibility" were at stake, a rare step by the group which hardly ever speaks out on the domestic affairs of its members.

The regime accused neighbouring Thailand, which issued the statement one week ago as the rotating chairman of the 10-member bloc, of meddling in Burma's domestic politics, state media reported.

"This statement issued by the alternate Asean chairman - which is not in conformity with Asean practice, incorrect in facts, interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar (Burma) - is strongly rejected by Myanmar," the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said, quoting a government statement.

The statement "sadly noted" that Thailand had "failed to preserve the dignity of Asean, the dignity of Burma and the dignity of Thailand".

Aung San Suu Kyi faces up to five years in jail if convicted of breaching the terms of her house arrest after an eccentric American, John Yettaw, swam to her lakeside house.

Yettaw has told the trial that he wanted to warn her that she would be assassinated. He used a pair of home-made flippers and a plastic bottle to make the night time water journey earlier this month.

About 30 members of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy on Monday continued a vigil outside the notorious Insein Prison, where the trial is taking place and where she is being held, witnesses said.

EU puts pressure too

Burma's outburst came as the European Union urged called at an Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi on Monday for the "immediate release" of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The message was conveyed to Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win on the sidelines of the meeting, said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.

But Kohout acknowledged that "I don't have a positive feeling" about the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

myanmar burma aung san su kyi trial 250509 01 Separately EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told reporters on Monday in Bangkok the Asean statement last week was "remarkable".

The Southeast Asian bloc has come under pressure from the United States and the EU to exert its influence on Burma, which has kept Aung San Suu Kyi in detention for 13 of the past 19 years.

Ferrero-Waldner said she would also urge other Asian countries, including Burma's giant neighbour China and India, to "commit themselves to engage with this government so that there are changes".

But Burma's statement showed no signs of bowing to international pressure over its tough stance on the 63-year-old campaigner, whose party won elections in 1990 but was never allowed to take power.

It said that the actions it had taken against Aung San Suu Kyi were "in accordance with the normal practice in every state and it is merely the internal affairs of Myanmar".

Critics of Burmese regime have accused it of trumping up the charges as an excuse to keep Aung San Suu Kyi in jail ahead of controversial elections promised by the ruling generals in 2010.

-AFP