The United States has asked for many Asian governments, including Malaysia, to join in the call for the release of detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Washington Post reported yesterday that formal diplomatic requests were delivered to US envoys in at least 11 capitals over the past week, specifically aiming at countries which are considered to have the most influence over the Burmese government.

Karl E Stoltz, the Public Affairs Counsellor at the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, has confirmed the report, saying that the embassy's representatives had met with Wisma Putra officials last week to convey the request.