UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has written a personal letter to Burma's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. In the letter, Mr Brown praised Suu Kyi's selflessness and courage, saying that his government stands immovably alongside her and the Burmese people. He urges the Burmese leadership to hold free and inclusive elections in 2010, what he calls an historic year. He warns anything less will prolong the country's diplomatic exclusion. He added that Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest, could count on the support of the UK. The text has been passed to the Burmese leadership via the British embassy in Rangoon which officials say is the formal channel for communicating with Ms Suu Kyi. Although Aung San Suu Kyi has lodged several appeals over the years, the chances of her being released ahead of the elections seem remote.