Rangoon - Burma said yesterday it was reluctant to let Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's dying British husband visit her, but tried to goad the Nobel laureate into flying to his side despite her fears she would be forced into exile.
A visa application from Mr Michael Aris, reportedly dangerously ill after prostate cancer spread to his spine and lungs, was under consideration, a government statement said. The authorities were "surprised" Mr Aris, a British academic, wanted to visit Burma despite his grave condition.
"As a more sensible alternative, the government of Myanmar [Burma] suggests that Ms Suu Kyi who is in perfect health travel to England to respond to her husband's dying wish to see her," it said.
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi fears, however, that due to her political struggle with Burma's military rulers she would be barred from returning to the country.
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in elections in 1990, but the government has refused to hand over power and has conducted a long campaign against the party.