UN Chief Praises Suu Kyi For 'Flexibility' On Parliamentary Oath

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has praised Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for agreeing to take a parliamentary oath despite her continued objection to its wording.

Ban, who is in Myanmar for the first time since its five-decade military rule was formally replaced by a reformist government last year, met with Suu Kyi on May 1, one day after she announced that she had agreed to take the oath and take her elected seat in parliament.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former political prisoner, had criticized wording that included a pledge to "safeguard" the army-created constitution.

But she said April 30 that she would drop her objection because her supporters wished to see her in parliament.

Ban praised Suu Kyi for demonstrating "flexibility" and making a "difficult decision."

Based on reporting by AFP and AP