Myanmar's military rulers have rejected a request by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit the detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

Junta chief Than Shwe on Saturday refused to let Ban, who is in Myanmar, visit Suu Kyi.

Ban had pressed for permission to visit Yangon's Insein Prison where Suu Kyi, the 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner, is detained.

The country's icon of democracy has spent most of the last two decades under house arrest or detention.

Suu Kyi -- the face of Myanmar's pro-democracy movement -- is currently on trial on allegations of violating the terms of her house arrest and subversion. If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison.

The UN chief has expressed deep disappointment over the outcome of his request.

On Friday, Ban urged Myanmar's leader to release all political prisoners and resume dialogue with the opposition.

Rights groups have warned that Ban's trip will be a "huge failure" if he does not secure the release of Suu Kyi and other political activists.

JR/SC/MD