Posted on 08/26/2005 7:47:55 AM PDT by ZayYa
Yangon, Aug 26 (DPA) Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Than Shwe, who was earlier this week rumoured to have been ousted in a coup, has been flown to Singapore for medical treatment, a source said Friday.
Than Shwe, 73, was flown to Singapore Wednesday for treatment of an unspecified illness, the source close to the military leader said.
General Maung Aye - vice chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), as Myanmar's military junta styles itself - is leading the country in Than Shwe's absence.
Than Shwe has led Myanmar's military regime since 1992.
He was last seen in public Aug 19, when he met with former Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas, who was visiting as a special envoy of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Rumours have circulated in Yangon since Monday that Than Shwe was either gravely ill or had been ousted in an internal coup.
The coup rumour was denied by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Thursday.
Myanmar Prime Minister General Soe Win has reportedly cancelled his planned goodwill trip to China in response to Than Shwe's sudden departure.
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