U.N.'s Ban to urge Myanmar leader to free prisoners

By Louis Charbonneau

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has a rare meeting with Myanmar's top general on Friday where he will urge the secretive leader to free all political prisoners and ensure next year's elections are credible.

Ban told reporters in Singapore he would ask Senior General Than Shwe when they meet in the country's new capital, Naypyidaw, to allow to him to see opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose widely criticized trial is expected to resume on Friday -- the first day of Ban's two-day visit.

The stakes are high for Ban and the risk of failure great.

Halfway through a five-year term at the helm of the United Nations, Ban has faced a wave of criticism recently from detractors who say his low-key approach to the job does not work. He is eager to prove them wrong, U.N. diplomats say.

Ban made clear that he was under no illusions about how difficult it will be to persuade the military junta in the former Burma to free prisoners and take concrete steps towards democracy ahead of next year's multi-party elections.

"I'm visiting Myanmar with certain uncertainties," he said.

"We must try our best to bring changes. I'll do my best (but) I do not believe my visit should be a make-or-break event... This will be a very difficult mission."

He said he would also press Than Shwe and Prime Minister Thein Sein to engage in "meaningful and credible dialogue" with Suu Kyi and the opposition.