[JURIST] Myanmar opposition leader and democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi [JURIST news archive] was briefly released from house arrest Sunday to met with visiting UN Special Envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari, but Gambari was not allowed to meet with top junta leaders Senior General Than Shwe [BBC profile] or Deputy Senior General Maung Aye in his efforts to halt rising political violence and repression in the military-led country. Observers say that the temporary release of Suu Kyi was unexpected. The leader of the National League for Democracy has spent 11 of the past 17 years in prison or under house arrest for alleged violations of an anti-subversion law [text].

Last Wednesday, the Myanmar government began a crackdown against protesters [JURIST report], arresting hundreds of Buddhist monks demonstrating against human rights abuses by the military government. On Thursday, Myanmar authorities raided several Buddhist monasteries, detaining monks [JURIST report] the junta believed to be leading the demonstrations. At least 10 people have been killed by government soldiers shooting into crowds; protests subsided over the weekend as troops effectively locked down Myanmar's major cities. AP has more. AP has additional coverage.