Political leaders and supporters the world over have reacted with excitement, albeit cautiously, to the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Burmese opposition icon’s seven years under house arrest came to an end this evening and she was seen briefly at the gates of her compound to address the thousands of supporters that had gathered.

“There is a time to be quiet and a time to talk,” she said. “People must work in unison. Only then can we achieve our goal.”