YANGON: A court in Myanmar yesterday sentenced opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to 18 months in detention.

The court handed down a three-year prison term for violation of an internal security law, but that was immediately halved on the orders of the ruling State Peace and Development Council, which said the Nobel peace laureate could serve the time in her Yangon home.

"Aung San Suu Kyi ... was found guilty of the charges and I hereby pass the sentence of three years' imprisonment," said the judge.