The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Washington

The US Senate unanimously agreed Thursday to confer the Congressional Gold Medal on Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, following a similar decision by the House of Representatives.

The 62-year-old widow is the world's only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient, having spent more than 12 of the past 18 years under house arrest.

The medal-the highest civilian honor the legislature can bestow-has also been given to such diverse individuals as Winston Churchill, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, former South African president Nelson Mandela and Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. "The Senate today has approved a measure to award our nation's highest civilian honor to Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma's (Myanmar's) democratic opposition," said Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, who proposed the legislation with Republican Mitch McConnell.