Bush Sends Birthday Wishes to Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi

President Bush has sent his best wishes to Burmese opposition activist Aung San Suu Kyi, as she prepares to spend her 60th birthday Sunday under house arrest at her Rangoon home.

In a statement Friday, Mr. Bush said the Burmese pro-democracy leader's "strength, courage, and personal sacrifice" have inspired those who stand for freedom.

Her pro-democracy party won a landslide victory in 1990 elections, but Burma's military junta never allowed the winners to take office.

Malaysia, Britain and the United Nations have joined human rights activists worldwide who are calling for her release.

Meanwhile, the Nobel Committee has called for her immediate release. Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her nonviolent struggle for democracy and human rights.

In a statement Friday, the Nobel Committee, which awarded Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi the Nobel Peace Peace in 1991, called for her immediate release. She has been in and out of detention for much of the past 16 years -- this time since May of 2003.

Malaysia, Britain, the United States and the United Nations --- as well as human rights activists worldwide --- have echoed similar calls for her release.

To mark her 60th birthday, protests are held at several Burmese embassies worldwide -- including in the United States, London, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and Pretoria.

U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos delivered to the Burmese Embassy in Washington a box containing thousands of pieces of mail to Aung San Suu Kyi. Nobody came out of the building. He left the box outside.