Key events in the life of Aung San Suu Kyi

By The Associated Press The Associated Press – 2 hrs 49 mins ago
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of Myanmar's independence hero, Gen. Aung San, who was assassinated when she was 2 years old, but she fell into politics almost by accident.

• Born in Yangon, formerly Rangoon, on June 19, 1945.

• Earned degrees in philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University in England. Married British academic Michael Aris in 1972 and has two children who live in Britain.

• Rushed back to Burma, later renamed Myanmar, in 1988 to care for her ailing mother. Her trip coincided with mass demonstrations against military government that left thousands dead. She became rallying figure and helped found the National League for Democracy party.

• Arrested in 1989 on charges of inciting unrest and kept under house arrest for the next six years.

• Barred from running in elections called by the junta in May 1990. Her party won 392 of 495 seats in parliament, but military refused to honor the results, and she became symbol of Myanmar's suppressed democracy.

• Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

• Released from prison in 1995 but generals continued to arrest her supporters and prevent her from traveling outside the capital.

• Her husband, who had cancer, was refused permission to visit her before he died in 1999.

• Put under house arrest again in 2000, released unconditionally in 2002 and re-arrested in May 2003. Her current detention was due to expire May 27, 2009.

• Arrested on May 14 and charged with violating her house arrest after uninvited American man swam to her home and stayed two days.

• Convicted on Aug. 11 of violating her house arrest and sentenced to three years in prison, which was reduced by junta chief to 18 months under house arrest.