Washington - The United States expressed concern Tuesday about the health of Myanmar democratic activist Aung San Suu Kyi, who reportedly began a hunger strike last month to protest years of detention.

"The regime's continued isolation and detention under house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi makes it impossible to confirm reports such as these," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

"The United States and the international community remain deeply concerned about her welfare."

McCormack called for the immediate release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners held by the regime in Myanmar, which is also known as Burma.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been held under house arrest since May 2003. Her National League for Democracy party issued a statement Sunday announcing that she began refusing food three weeks earlier. (dpa)