Goh leaves Burma without meeting Suu Kyi

Goh Chok Tong was the third leader of a country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to visit Myanmar since the nation, also known as Burma, joined the group last year.

Myanmar's membership in the organization drew international criticism because of the military government's human rights abuses and lack of democracy.

During earlier visits, the foreign ministers from the Philippines and Malaysia met Suu Kyi in apparent attempts to bridge the gap between her pro-democracy movement and the military regime.

But Goh's foreign minister, S. Jayakumar, did not visit Suu Kyi, who is largely confined to her lakeside home. Opposition sources said that the Singaporeans did not contact them for a meeting.

Singapore is the largest foreign investor in Myanmar, with 65 projects worth $1.5 billion, mostly in property development, manufacturing, food and beverages.

The military, which has ruled Myanmar since 1962, brutally crushed anti-government riots in 1988. Elections were held in 1990, but the military refused to allow Parliament to convene after Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy won a landslide victory.

Myanmar has indicated that it would hold another election after a new constitution is adopted but has given no deadline for completing the charter.

During a visit to Thailand on Wednesday, Goh told Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai that Myanmar officials said they wished to see increasing democracy and hold an election, but it would still take time, according to a Thai government spokesman.