British premier calls Suu Kyi’s release ‘long overdue’

LONDON - British Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the release Saturday of Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, calling it “long overdue”.

“Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration for all of us who believe in freedom of speech, democracy and human rights,” he said.

“Her detention was a travesty, designed only to silence the voice of the Burmese (Myanmar) people,” Cameron said. “Freedom is Aung San Suu Kyi’s right. The Burmese regime must now uphold it.”

Suu Kyi walked to freedom Saturday amid massive cheers from her supporters who flooded the streets outside her home in the Myanmar capital, Yangon.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who has been detained for 15 of the past 20 years, was greeted by jubilant crowds who had gathered in anticipation of her release.