Carla Bruni demands liberation of Aung San Suu Kyi

In the open letter, which was made public Tuesday, the former top model wrote, "It is a question of simple humanity to allow an ill woman to be free to be treated in complete confidentiality, because her life is clearly in danger."

Declaring that she found it "intolerable" that Suu Kyi could be sentenced to a new prison term, Bruni-Sarkozy wrote that imprisoning her again would "stifle hope for democracy in Myanmar."

The letter was sent Monday, the day the court case was opened against Suu Kyi, her two house helpers, and American John William Yettaw at Yangon's Insein Prison.

 The online edition of the weekly Le Nouvel Observateur reported Tuesday that the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), which set the gesture in motion, turned to Bruni-Sarkozy after receiving a cold shoulder from her husband's diplomatic advisors.

 According to sources within the FIDH, Bruni-Sarkozy wanted to issue a common letter with the US and British first ladies Michelle Obama and Sarah Brown. But she acted on her own when responses from Washington and London were slow in coming.