YANGON, May 28: The party of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi vowed on Sunday to take legal action to fight her detention, a day after the junta ordered the extension of her house arrest in defiance international pressure.

“We will take legal measures against the restrictions imposed on Aung San Suu Kyi. We will exercise our right, according to law,” said Nyan Win, a lawyer and spokesman for the National League for Democracy.

Although no public announcement was made, a Myanmar government official told The Associated Press on Saturday that the junta had issued an order extending Suu Kyi’s detention by one year. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

A statement from Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party confirmed the extension, but did not specify its duration.

The government’s rationale for detaining Suu Kyi has been that she could be a threat to public order. She has been detained for about 10 of the last 17 years.

“We are deeply saddened by the news because this is opposite to the expectation of the people. Hopes were higher this year than last year, but now our hopes are dashed,” Nyan Win said.—AP