Suu Kyi verdict widely condemned

YANGON, Myanmar, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- World reaction to a Myanmar military court's Tuesday ruling against pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was swift and strong.

The ruling sentenced the 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner to 18 months more of house arrest on charges she had violated detention rules.

The European Union demanded her immediate and unconditional release and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said there should be a global arms embargo against the military junta in the former British colony formerly known as Burma.

Sweden, current president of the 27-member European Union, said the group was ready for "targeted measures against those responsible for the verdict" against Suu Kyi, The New York Times reported. The statement said EU was also ready to tighten such measures as an arms export ban, visa restrictions and financial sanctions.

Suu Kyi and her campaign have received wide support in Europe from politicians and human rights advocates, The Times said.

"Aung San Suu Kyi 's detention today on spurious charges removes any shred of legitimacy" of the government, said Ricken Patel, director of an online campaign network called Avaaz.org.

Amnesty International's Irene Khan said in London the Suu Kyi should be released immediately and unconditionally.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy called the court ruling "brutal and unjust" and said sanctions should target Myanmar's profitable industries such as timber and ruby mining.

Brown, expressing sadness and anger, said in a statement: "It is further proof that the military regime in Burma is determined to act with total disregard for accepted standards of the rule of law in defiance of international opinion."

The New York Times said the U.S. response was expected to be equally severe.