Burma might have to be expelled from the Asean grouping if its military rulers continue defying world pressure to release democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned in an interview.

Mahathir, who played a major role in bringing Burma into the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 1997, made it clear, however, that this would only be considered as a last resort.

"We will have to examine every avenue before we can take such drastic actions," he told AFP in an exclusive interview ahead of a visit Tuesday by French President Jacques Chirac.

"In the end, it may have to be that way. I don't say that it cannot be but certainly not at this moment."

Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won 1990 elections by a landslide but has been denied power by the military, was detained on May 30 when her convoy was attacked by a junta-backed mob while she was on a political tour of northern Burma.

The incident triggered a wider crackdown on her National League for Democracy which has left its entire leadership in jail or under house arrest.

Very disappointed

Although the junta has insisted that Suu Kyi is being detained on a temporary basis for her own safety, it has not indicated when she could be released, despite pressure from the United Nations and countries around the world.

"We have already informed them that we are very disappointed with the turn of events and we hope that Aung San Suu Kyi will be released as soon as possible," Mahathir said.

"They sent an envoy to see me and I told them that is our view. We are very disappointed over these things and of course, we have done our very best to try and get them to change their minds but if they are willing to defy the world, then what can Malaysia do?"

The Burma issue has already shaken up the Southeast Asian grouping, which has been criticised in the past for its policy of not interfering in the internal affairs of member states.

Asean appeared to break with this tradition during its annual ministerial meeting in Cambodia last month, demanding the Nobel peace laureate's release.

Causing a problem

Mahathir said, however: "We don't criticise member states unless what one state does embarasses us, causes a problem for us.

"We are thinking about ourselves as Asean, we are not criticising Burma for doing what is not related to us, but what they have done has affected us, our credibility. Because of that, we have voiced our views."

Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. - AFP