"The purge in Rangoon heightens the political intrigue in Burma... The sacking of Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt in mid-October came as no great surprise. As Burma?s spymaster for 20 years, Khin Nyunt finally succumbed to his rival Deputy Sr-Gen Maung Aye, who is the vice-chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC, and the army chief. Legions of officers associated with the ousted PM have been detained..."