Airport reunion for Burmese leader and son

Kim Aris, 33, who lives in the UK, flew into Rangoon yesterday after being granted a visa by the military regime and was greeted by his smiling mother at the airport.

Ms Suu Kyi was only freed on November 13 after more than seven years under house arrest.

Mr Aris was granted the visa after waiting for several weeks in neighbouring Thailand. He and his brother were raised in England by their father, UK academic Michael Aris who died in 1999 from prostate cancer.

Just before walking into the airport terminal, smiling Ms Suu Kyi, 65, said: "I am very happy."

Through her lawyer Nyan Win, Ms Suu Kyi thanked the authorities for issuing the visa to her son, who last saw his mother in December 2000. He has repeatedly been denied visas ever since by the ruling junta.

Tears welled up in Ms Suu Kyi's eyes when she first saw her son.

The two posed briefly for photographers and then walked out of the airport holding hands.