A group of Malaysian lawmakers today urged Burma's military junta to free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi "immediately and unconditionally" and push ahead with democratic reforms.

About a dozen parliamentarians from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and the opposition came together in a rare cross-party caucus to demand free and fair elections in Burma.

"We are appealing to the Burmese Prime Minister Khin Nyunt to immediately and unconditionally release Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest," said Teresa Kok, an opposition lawmaker and the caucus secretary.

She told AFP the caucus would ask United Nations special envoy Razali Ismail to appeal to the Burmese government to include the National League for Democracy (NLD) in constitutional talks and hand over power to legitimately elected lawmakers.

Razali, a former Malaysian diplomat, was the catalyst for landmark contacts between Burma's junta and Aung San Suu Kyi which began in October 2000 but collapsed last year.

Her NLD party won elections in 1990 but was never allowed to rule.

Red-carpet welcome

Kok said the caucus would also press for the release of all political detainees including those elected to parliament in the last general elections in Burma.

"The Burma government should respect ... international opinion and return to the mainstream of responsible international norms and behaviour," she said.

The formation of the parliamentary caucus comes after the visit of Khin Nyunt to Malaysia last week.

Khin Nyunt received a red-carpet welcome and held talks with his Malaysian counterpart Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his first stop of a Southeast Asian tour.

Rangoon has drawn scathing international criticism over its so-called "roadmap to democracy", which kicked off last month with a national convention sidelining the country's opposition.

Burma's pro-democracy opposition led by the NLD has boycotted the forum as its leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest. - AFP