Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has left for the United States

Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has left for the United States

Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has left on a landmark trip to the United States.
The Nobel laureate, who was elected to parliament this year, flew out of Rangoon accompanied by new US ambassador to Burma Derek Mitchell.
This will be Ms Suu Kyi's first visit to the US since she began her democracy struggle in 1988.
Ms Suu Kyi lived in New York between 1969 and 1971, where she worked at the United Nations secretariat.
During her 18 days there she will meet the US President Barack Obama in Washington DC.
His government has been at the forefront of Western re-engagement with the long-time military dominated country.
Ms Suu Kyi will also receive numerous awards including the Congressional Gold Medal, the top honour bestowed by the US Congress, and meet Burmese diaspora groups as far apart as New York and San Francisco.
Despite the predicted red carpet welcome, AFP says her visit is laced with potential political trouble.
It will coincides with the visit of Burma's President Thein Sein, who is due in the US later in the month to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
"There is a risk that she will overshadow this significant first US visit by Thein Sein who has not yet really gotten the international recognition that he deserves for the remarkable reform process that he has put in place," Richard Horsey, an independent Burma analyst is quoted as saying.