Suu Kyi pledges to work for democracy

Aung San Suu Kyi emerges to greet supporters for the first time in 19 months

YANGON, Myanmar (CNN) -- Newly freed from house arrest, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has pledged to do everything she can to bring democracy to her country.

Speaking shortly after the military government announced the end of her detention on Monday, the Nobel Peace laureate spoke of a "new dawn" for Myanmar -- formerly known as Burma -- which she hoped would "move very quickly into full morning."

Within hours of her release she traveled to the headquarters of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), where she was greeted by a large crowd of cheering supporters.

In her first address after 19 months of house arrest Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi told supporters her party had been founded "in order to bring democracy to Burma."

"That is our cause, that is what we have to do," she said.

She added: "I, as general secretary of the party, must do everything I can to make sure that democracy comes to Burma quickly and comes in the right way."

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Earlier a spokesman for Myanmar's military government Colonel Hla Min confirmed that the opposition leader would be allowed to move freely around the capital Yangon and around the country.

"Aung San Suu Kyi has liberty to carry out all activities, including her political party, as of today," he said.

"There are no conditions or restrictions, because we are confident that we can trust each other."

Cautious welcome

News of her release has been given a cautious reception around the world, with many governments expressing hope that the move would be a first step towards full democracy.

Human rights group Amnesty International described the release as "a positive development" but said it hoped it would be followed by the release of some 1,500 political prisoners who remain behind bars.

"The United States welcomes the release from house arrest of Burma's [Myanmar's] Nobel laureate," the Bush administration said in a statement. "All parties should seize this opportunity to press ahead with the urgent work of restoring the rule of law and basic political and civil rights for all Burmese."

Despite the apparently unconditional release, the government said it would provide security for Aung San Suu Kyi because she is a prominent citizen and the daughter of the country's founder, General Aung San.

Government barricades outside her home on Yangon's University Avenue also remained in place Monday.

A government spokesman told CNN the roadblocks were put up at the opposition leader's request, but there was no independent confirmation she had requested the barricades stay in place.

In 1995, the last time she was released from government detention, as many as 5,000 people gathered to cheer.

Speaking to supporters at the NLD's ramshackle headquarters, Aung San Suu Kyi said democracy wouldn't begin simply because she has been released.

Rather, she said, it would take organization throughout the country to see it become a reality.

Although the government-controlled media provided no coverage of her release, a crowd of about 1,000 gathered to hear her speak.

"I'm very glad. She is our leader. I'm very grateful," said one man.

New page for Myanmar

Her release was previewed in a statement issued by Myanmar's embassy in Washington in which the government proclaimed Monday "a day of national unity" that "marks a new page for the people of Myanmar and the international community."

Conspicuously it did not mention Aung San Suu Kyi by name, but a U.S.-based public relations firm employed by Yangon confirmed that she had been referenced in the following paragraph:

"We shall recommit ourselves to allowing all of our citizens to participate freely in the life of our political process, while giving priority to national unity, peace and stability of the country as well as the region."

(Read the full statement from the Myanmar government)

The statement also said that Myanmar had released some 600 detainees in recent months "and shall continue to release those who will cause no harm to the community nor threaten the existing peace, stability and unity of the nation."

It is unclear whether that refers to other leaders of the NLD, also being held under house arrest.

House arrest

The government says it will maintain security around Aung San Suu Kyi's Yangon home

Fifty-six year old Aung San Suu Kyi has been under some form of detention for much of the past 12 years.

Her release follows days of mounting speculation following a visit to Myanmar by U. N. special envoy Razali Ismail.

Shortly after his visit he told reporters that "major developments" would soon occur in the country -- a comment many observers interpreted as meaning Aung San Suu Kyi's release was imminent.

Myanmar has been subject to international isolation and crippling sanctions because of her detention with pressure growing for signs of progress in reconciliation efforts between the military government and the opposition.

The NLD, which scored a runaway victory in democratic elections in 1990, was never allowed to take power although many outside of the country regard it as the country's legitimate government.

However, CNN's Tom Mintier who is in Yangon says the international community is likely to take a wait-and-see approach to the announcement of Aung San Suu Kyi's release and how it actually plays out before easing any of the sanctions against Myanmar.

The military government insists it is committed to bringing democracy to Myanmar, but says that moving too fast would risk the disintegration of the multi-ethnic country.