NEWS - Dublin To Honor Rock Group

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Subject: NEWS -  Dublin To Honor Rock Group U2 and Aung San Suu Kyi

Tuesday November 2 10:54 AM ET 

 Dublin To Honor Rock Group U2 and Aung San Suu Kyi

                 DUBLIN (Reuters) - Myanmar democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi and Irish rock group U2 are to be given honorary freedom of
                 the city of Dublin, the Lord Mayor's office said
Tuesday.

                 Although formal arrangements had yet to be concluded,
it was expected that Nobel Peace Laureate Suu Kyi and the members of
                 U2 would receive the honor early next year, a
spokeswoman said.

                 Suu Kyi, who won military-ruled Myanmar's last election
in 1990 but was never allowed to take office, was being honored in
                 recognition of her role in promoting democracy and for
her inspiration to woman, particularly in developing countries.

 ``(Suu Kyi) has proven herself to be a woman of great courage and
international acclaim,'' the spokeswoman said.

 Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her work for democracy in
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

 International human rights groups have accused the Myanmar military
government of widespread human rights abuses, including mass arrests and
torture,
 against political opponents since seizing power in 1988 by crushing a
pro-democracy uprising.

 The four members of U2, one of the world's most popular rock groups,
had continued to live in their native city despite international
success, the
 spokeswoman said.

 ``They have been very supportive of Irish cultural events and
charitable causes, while also bringing a substantial amount of tourism
to the city,'' she said.

 Past recipients of the freedom of Dublin honor include President
Clinton in 1996 and Mother Theresa of Calcutta in 1993. Veteran Irish
broadcaster Gay
 Byrne, who was given the keys to the city earlier this year, was the
64th person to receive the award.