Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi walks free

Myanmar's military government today released its arch rival and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest as her latest detention term ended on Saturday.

"She is released now," said an unnamed government official, who went inside to read the release order.

A smiling Suu Kyi, 65, appeared at the gate of her compound as jubilant supporters waiting outside her home cheered and sang the national anthem.

"If we work in unity, we will achieve our goal. We have a lot of things to do," she told the swelling crowd in Burmese.

She said she would meet supporters on Sunday at the headquarters of the National League for Democracy (NLD), political party that she helped to create.

World leaders and human rights organisations welcomed her release.