SHE has been described as the Nelson Mandela of the new generation: a prisoner of conscience supported by thousands across the world who is about to celebrate another birthday under house arrest.

Now Aung San Suu Kyi, in the weekend of global protests to mark her 60th birthday tomorrow, has gained further recognition from outwith her own state of Burma, with Edinburgh awarding her the freedom of the city.

Protests began yesterday when more than 100 prodemocracy campaigners gathered outside the Burmese embassy in London to call for her release.

Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy, has been imprisoned and under house arrest for most of the past 16 years.

In May 2002, she was released from house arrest but the following year she and her supporters were attacked by members of the ruling military regime and she was once again detained.

The protest yesterday was part of a global day of action for Burmese democracy. Exiles, many of them former political prisoners or people who have f led the regime, demonstrated outside Burmese embassies in 50 countries worldwide.

Protests are expected to continue over the weekend.

Her son, Kim Aris, will attend a commemorative ceremony to be held at Parliament Square in Edinburgh. A city official will place the scroll on an empty chair alongside a portrait of Suu Kyi.

It is only the second time that the council has awarded the freedom of the city to a person outside Edinburgh - the first was to Nelson Mandela.

Lesley Hinds, lord provost of Edinburgh, said: "By honouring her, Edinburgh citizens will be publicly supporting her tireless work for democracy and human rights."

Mark Farmaner, of the Burma Campaign UK, said the military regime in Burma was scared to release Suu Kyi because of the support she could mobilise both inside and outside the country.

Mr Farmaner said yesterday's protest also aimed to put pressure on the British government to use its political and economic influence to press for Suu Kyi's release.

"They also need to enforce targeted economic sanctions in areas such as gems, timber, oil and gas and stop British companies investing in Burma."

Mr Farmaner said the military dictatorship was recognised as one of the most brutal regimes in the world, and that it had been accused by the UN of committing crimes against humanity for its forced labour.

"It is very brave of the Burmese people to come and protest. It would be illegal in Burma, " he said.

For her efforts to bring about peaceful transition to democracy in Burma, Suu Kyi has received over 50 international rewards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. She is the world's only imprisoned recipient of the prize.

Jack Straw, foreign secretary, said: "Her treatment by the Burmese authorities is indefensible and I urge them to release her and the 1300 other political prisoners immediately."

Some of the protesters planned to travel to Edinburgh to continue their campaign today.

The Nobel prize committee also joined calls for Suu Kyi to be freed from her house arrest.

In a rare public statement about a past laureate, the fivemember committee in Norway expressed its continuing admiration for her.

Ole D Mjoes, committee chairman, said: "We ask that she be set free immediately. We look forward to the day that democracy again rules her country."

Suu Kyi won the coveted prize for her non-violent efforts to bring democracy and human rights to her country.

Denmark also joined in calls for release of the pro-democracy leader.

Per Stig Moeller, Danish foreign minister, said: "The government urges the military regime in Rangoon to immediately and unconditionally release Aung San Suu Kyi."

In Oslo, the Nobel Committee, quoting its own award citation, said: "Suu Kyi's struggle is one of the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Asia in recent decades."

"That was true in 1991. That is even more true today, " the committee said.

"We look forward to the day that Aung San Suu Kyi can come to Oslo to be celebrated as the special Nobel laureate she is."

Geir Lundestad, the committee's secretary, said it would like to see important regional neighbors of Burma, especially China and India, do more to distance themselves from its regime.

IN PROFILE

Aung San Suu Kyi, born June 19, 1945, in Rangoon, daughter of national leader General Aung San, who was assassinated when she was two.

She studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University.

Burma's military junta came to power in 1988, crushing a prodemocracy uprising that saw Suu Kyi rise to prominence.

Nobel Peace Prize winner, 1991.

Detained by Burmese authorities on numerous occasions.