AP

Posted: 2008-03-04 00:04:04

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - A family of four and their maid were fatally shot at their house in a rare violent attack in Myanmar’s biggest city, just down the street from the home of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, police and relatives said Tuesday.

The shooting occurred Monday night inside the Yangon home of a wealthy couple, who were found dead along with their two daughters and the family’s maid, a relative said.

“They were killed by gunshots and the safe was found empty,” said the relative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns.

Police said empty shell casings were found in the home, which was sealed for an investigation.

Shootings are unusual in Myanmar and particularly rare in Suu Kyi’s neighborhood, which is kept under constant surveillance.

The area is close to the State Guesthouse, a military facility where the junta has allowed the detained Nobel Peace Prize winner to meet visiting dignitaries from the United Nations. Suu Kyi has been in prison or house arrest for 12 of the past 18 years.

U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who last year met Suu Kyi twice at the guesthouse, is scheduled to return to Myanmar on Thursday.

Gambari has led the U.N.’s mission to push the junta toward democratic reforms following its deadly September crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

Suu Kyi’s pro-democracy opposition party, the National League for Democracy, has vocally criticized the ruling junta’s plans to hold a constitutional referendum in May ahead of general elections in 2010.

The constitution bars Suu Kyi from contesting elections and has been widely denounced as a sham designed to perpetuate the military’s rule.