Police guard for Suu Kyi after death threat

Myanmar police have decided to give protection to National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi after a death threat.

A special unit has now been assigned to protect her for the first time, reports BBC.

Suu Kyi’s NLD has just taken power in Myanmar after a landslide victory in elections in November.

According to BBC, the threat was issued over a possible constitutional change enabling Ms Suu Kyi to become president.

She spent years under house arrest under the former military dictatorship.

The man who made the death threat in a Facebook post has since apologised but it was taken seriously.

He said he would kill her if the constitution was changed, and also posted pictures of himself carrying an assault rifle.

"I told the local police office straight away to take care of her security when I saw the post. We cannot afford anything to happen to a person of her stature," BBC quoted a police official as saying.

Up until now, Suu Kyi has been protected by her own security detail, who will continue to guard her. Police units will provide extra protection outside her home.