British PM Brown sends birthday wish to Suu Kyi

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent birthday wishes to Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday, joining an online campaign to mark her 64th birthday next month.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace prize winner, is on trial in Myanmar (Burma) accused of violating the terms of her house arrest. If found guilty, she faces up to five years in prison. [nBKK229015]

Human rights campaigners are encouraging well-wishers to enter 64-word messages of support for Suu Kyi before her June 19 birthday on the "64 words for Aung San Suu Kyi" web site (www.64forsuu.com).

"I add my voice to the growing chorus of those demanding your release. For too long the world has failed to act in the face of this intolerable injustice. That is now changing," Brown said in his 64-word message posted on the web site.

The online campaign, launched on Wednesday, has already received over 1,400 messages of support for the pro-democracy leader, web designer Rachel Collinson told Reuters.

Critics have denounced Suu Kyi's trial as a charade designed to keep her in detention during an election next year.

U.S. President Barack Obama joined the clamor for her release on Tuesday, condemning her arrest and detention and calling the charges against her "spurious."

A group of statesmen and Nobel laureates including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter also issued a statement calling for Suu Kyi's release.

(Reporting by Nicholas Vinocur; Editing by Farah Master)