Feb 17, 2009 (DVB), United Nations special rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana went to Rangoon's Insein prison yesterday as part of his six-day visit to Burma to assess human rights developments in the country.

Quintana arrived at the prison at about 3.30pm local time in a convoy of 11 cars headed by two motorcycles, an eyewitness said.

According to witnesses, they convoy left the prison at about 5pm. Armed security personnel stood guard along Insein's main road.

Yesterday, Quintana visited Pa-an jail in Karen state and went on to visit Democratic Karen Buddhist Army headquarters in Myainggyingu.

This is Quintana's second visit to Burma since he was appointed to his post as special rapporteur on human rights in the country in May last year.

He arrived Burma on Saturday and is due to stay until 19 February to assess any progress made towards the human rights recommendations he set out during his August 2008 visit.

Reporting by Nan Kham Kaew