No bids as house of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi auctioned
Aung San Suu Kyi's now empty house is seen by Yangon's Inya lake, 4 Jul, 2009. (Photo: REUTERS/Louis Charbonneau)
Ahead of the auction, a small crowd - mostly of journalists - gathered outside the colonial-era house on leafy University Avenue, a few doors down from the US embassy.
Officials emerged from the locked gates and announced the opening of the auction by striking a small bell three times.
Above the gate, a portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi's father, the independence hero Aung San, watched over the proceedings, while a notice advertised the price as 315 billion kyats, or US$150 million based on the official exchange rate.
The auctioneer - wearing a sarong-like longyi - held his hand up for bids, but there was only silence.
"There is no one to bid," he announced, striking the bell again to close the auction.
