a report from john irvine from itn. >> reporter: leaving home a free woman for the first time in seven years. quickly word spread around rangoon. she came home to a political rally. if she was hoping for a low-key drive to party headquarters, it hasn't worked out that way. she's managed to bring the center of rangoon virtually to a stand still. when she finally made it to her party offices, there were thousands of well-wishers. her affinity with the masses appears to be undiminished, but how might she choose to harness her appeal? interestingly she told the crowd she bore her jailers no ill will. later after a chaotic news conference i asked her about future relations with burma's generals. how are you going to use your moral authority, are you willing to compromise with the opposition. >> so far she has chosen her words carefully and has not openly criticized burma's regime. she says the generals have nothing to fear from her, but she's not what they're afraid of. it's her popularity. john irvine, itv news, rangoon. >>> a wreak before teek before discuss afghanistan, har. >> i is call

john irvine was amongst those capturing the moment. >> reporter: amidst the euphoria i asked her howhe was. she could barely hear herself think. >> reporter: her latest house arrest, seven years of near total isolation, has been marked by periods of ill health. though tonight the 65-year-old pro-democracy leader was lifted by the excitement. her jailers, the generals who ruled myanmar for half a century, recently held elections widely dismissed as a sham. her release may be aimed at i did reflecting that criticism. she is a symbol of hope in myanmar. her release hailed around the world where millions have been moved by her soft spoken and dignified opposition to dictatorship. she's often care kpompared toga mandela. she was released in 2002 and rearrested after attracted crowds. there are fears she will again face restrictions. >> we hope that she hasn't been released from the prison of her house into effectively a larger prison into the country. >> reporter: it's been a hard personal struggle. her husband, a british academic, died of cancer in 1999 while she was in detention. the ge

we have a report from john irvine of "independent television news." >> in the disputed part of the yellow sea since the disputed ilafrnisland of pyongy where war is a daily reality. where south korea is now looking wounds. the main village here is largely deserted, abandoned by frightened people who 48 hours ago find themselves in a battle cound of dozens of artillery shells landed all around. several buildings have been gutted. in one cafe we saw cups of tea left behind by villagers who bolted into shelters, the bodies of two civilians found in the rubble were taken off the island this morning. the barrage was fired from over there. that's north korea. just seven miles away from the island. when you see the damage wrought here it's easy to understand why south korea is so reluctant to escalate things. north korea has far more artillery pieces trained on the massive city of seoul than it does on this small island. the south koreans are scratching their heads, and the difference minister has had to resign for doing too little, and the government has announced strengthening of the garrison.

we have a report from john irvine of independent television news, who visited suu kyi. >> reporter: when it was dark and safer, we were invited into the home that was her prison. we were both breaking the rules. we're in the country illegally. few places in burma are barred to foreign journalists than this house. but after seven years aung san suu kyi is anxious to be heard. we talked first about her incarceration. >> i miss my sons very much. i miss friends. apart from that, i kept myself very busy. i didn't waste my time. >> reporter: the long rest came to an end on saturday afternoon. thousands of supporters were outside. clearly she appreciates the support of foreign governments and had this message for the rest of the world. >> we will certainly like to ask them to continue to keep on increasing the support, not as our right but as, shall we say, as one human to another or as many humans to many other humans on the basis of human warmth and friendship. >> reporter: aung san suu kyi is back in the spotlight. can she bring tangible change to burma? we don't yet know. but there is some

irvine. >> and we have a new majority leader, john banor.e have had a fantastic sweep across the nation. many senate seats have already fallen, and as you all well know we have a new majority leader john baynor just a wonderful, wonderful night. yes, exactly. the message has been sent loud and clear. now here in california -- you know, california is always a little bit different, right? so here in california here is where we are -- 36% of the vote has been counted, 36%. we are in a dead heat tie. [applause]. and so the facts are, it is too close to call. the facts are it is going to be a long night, and we will be watching returns all night, but all those people who have already declared this race, maybe that was not a smart thing to do. [applause]. >> on primary night i promised that i would run a tireless, fearless campaign. and i want to tell all of you that you have run a tireless, fearless campaign as well. i want to thank the tens of thousands of volunteers who have given of their time, of their money and particularly all of you out th