Sat Oct 6, 3:12 AM ET

UNITED NATIONS - The U.S. warned it would push for U.N. sanctions against Myanmar if it fails to respond to international demands to move toward democracy. But the country's U.N. ambassador strongly resisted punitive measures, saying it is not a threat to regional security and needs "patience" to promote reconciliation.

The U.S. and its allies on the Security Council — France and Britain — said Friday after being briefed on the U.N. special envoy's four-day trip to Myanmar that they want swift action in response to the government's brutal crackdown on demonstrations last week.

Security Council members met behind closed doors to discuss a possible statement in support of national reconciliation in the country and U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari's efforts, but U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad stressed he was prepared to go further.

"The United States is appalled by the brutal repression that has been carried out by the Burmese regime against its own people," he told the council, using Myanmar's former name.

If the junta doesn't respond to the demands of the international community, he warned, "the U.S. is prepared to introduce a resolution in the Security Council imposing sanctions," citing a possible arms embargo.

But China and Russia remain opposed to council action, saying the situation in Myanmar is an internal affair that does not threaten international peace and security.

China's U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya called on the Security Council to exercise restraint and reiterated his country's opposition to pressuring Myanmar through such measures as sanctions.

"Pressure would not serve any purpose and would only lead to confrontation," Wang said. "If the situation in Myanmar takes a worse turn because of external intervention it will be the people of the country who will bear the brunt."

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said his government has called on the junta to implement democratic reforms. The Security Council's job, he said, "is to continue lending political support to the efforts of Mr. Gambari."

Myanmar's U.N. ambassador, Kyaw Tint Swe, also urged against Security Council action, saying his country was committed to forging ahead with national reconciliation.

"Patience, time and space is needed," he said. "Despite the recent tragic events, the situation in Myanmar is not, and I repeat not, a threat to either regional or international peace and security. No Security Council action is warranted."

Kyaw Tint Swe said stability had returned to his country and people have been holding peaceful, pro-government rallies "to demonstrate their aversion to recent, provocative demonstrations." Critics say such rallies are shams, filled with people ordered to attend by authorities.

In his speech to the council, Gambari urged Myanmar's military rulers to take steps toward democracy and quickly start talks with detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"This is an hour of historic opportunity for Myanmar," Gambari said. "To delay the prospect of a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Myanmar is to deny it to those who deserve it most, the people of Myanmar."

Gambari said he was "cautiously encouraged" that the country's military ruler, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, said he would meet with Suu Kyi, with certain conditions. Those include giving up her calls for confronting the government and for imposing sanctions against it, Myanmar state media said.

Gambari stressed, however, that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for talks without any preconditions to overcome "the high level of mistrust" between Than Shwe and Suu Kyi.

"From my own conversations (with Suu Kyi), she appears to be very anxious to have a proper dialogue — and, of course, a dialogue that the secretary-general has characterized as without preconditions — because that would be the best way to move forward. Just start talking," Gambari told reporters afterward.

Gambari said he has been invited to return to Myanmar in mid-November but may try to go earlier. Ban sent Gambari to Myanmar last week after troops quashed the protests with gunfire and detained hundreds of people. The government said 10 people were killed, but dissident groups put the death toll at up to 200 and say 6,000 people were detained, including thousands of monks.

Myanmar's ambassador said Friday that 2,095 detainees had been released, including 728 monks, and that more releases will follow.

The U.S., Britain and France circulated a draft presidential statement Friday that would welcome Gambari's mission, condem the government's "violent repression" of peaceful demonstrations, and call for the immediate release of all detainees and political prisoners, including Suu Kyi, to promote "genuine reconciliation, dialogue and democratization."

The draft statement, which the council is expected to discuss next week, supports a dialogue between the government and opposition "without conditions."

Myanmar's junta took power in 1988 after crushing the democracy movement led by Suu Kyi. In 1990, it refused to hand over power when Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide election victory. Suu Kyi has been detained for nearly 12 of the last 18 years and is currently under house arrest.

The current protests began Aug. 19 after the government hiked fuel prices in one of Asia's poorest countries. The protests were faltering when Buddhist monks took the lead late last month.

Sat Oct 6, 2:31 AM ET

SINGAPORE - Any peaceful solution to the situation in Myanmar must include the military, the Association of South East Asian Nations has told a UN meeting.

Current ASEAN chair Singapore told a Security Council meeting Friday excluding the armed forces could result in more instability in Myanmar, where a bloody crackdown on protests last month left at least 13 dead and more than 2,000 locked up.

"It would be a grievous mistake to think that if the State Peace and Development Council (Myanmar's ruling junta) left the scene tomorrow, all would suddenly be well and all problems would automatically be resolved," said Vanu Gopala Menon, Singapore's permanent representative to the United Nations.

Menon said the world must be "pragmatic" in dealing with the reclusive, military-ruled country.

"The military is a key institution in Myanmar that cannot be wished away. Any peaceful solution to the crisis will have to involve all parties, including the military," he said, according to a transcript released by the foreign ministry here.

"If the military is not part of the solution, there will be no solution. If the process is mishandled, it could result in greater instability and more suffering for the Myanmar people."

Despite its spotty human rights record, ASEAN admitted Myanmar in 1997 in the hope of inducing democratic reforms through constructive diplomacy.

Menon said Myanmar was not a homogenous state, noting the presence of various armed ethnic groups opposed to the central government.

"This should not be an excuse for delaying necessary steps forward. But neither do we want a Yugoslavia in Southeast Asia," he cautioned, referring to the civil wars that led to Yugoslavia's break-up in the 1990s.

The UN Security Council met in New York to hear a report by UN special envoy to Ibrahim Gambari on his recent mission to Myanmar after troops opened fire on protesters last month to suppress a civilian uprising, killing at least 13 people. More than 2,000 were arrested.

The UN is attempting to find a peaceful way to restore democratic rule in Myanmar, which has been ruled by the military in various guises since 1962, when the first military dictator Ne Win seized power in a coup.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of independence hero General Aung San, rose to prominence during a 1988 democracy uprising that was brutally suppressed by the junta, leaving thousands dead.

She helped form the National League for Democracy, but was put under house arrest in 1989, where she has spent 12 of the last 18 years.

Senior General Than Shwe became the junta leader in 1992, and has ruled the country with an iron fist in near-complete isolation.

Menon, Singapore's UN envoy, also said any move to impose additional sanctions must be studied carefully to determine their impact, and urged the world to "avoid falling into the trap of over-simplification" of the situation in Myanmar.

Menon said "it is in everyone's interest to keep Myanmar in the ASEAN family."

ASEAN also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Sat Oct 6, 12:51 AM ET

YANGON - Myanmar's junta Saturday tried to cool growing UN pressure over its deadly crackdown on peaceful protests, seeking talks with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and relaxing its blockage of the Internet.

But analysts warned that the rare gestures offered by the regime appeared to be token efforts to stave off tougher UN action demanded by the United States and other western countries.

Faced with the biggest protests against military rule seen in nearly two decades, Myanmar's government launched a bloody crackdown in late September that left at least 13 dead and more than 2,000 locked up.

UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari made a four-day mission here to express global outrage at the junta's actions, and warned the UN Security Council Friday that the nation's turmoil could have "serious international repercussions."

As he was briefing the Council in New York, state television in Myanmar broadcast images of the detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time in at least four years.

The television report referred to her as 'Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,' using a respectful form of address, rather than just her name, as was common in the past.

The regime also restored some Internet access -- but only during a military-imposed curfew -- and announced that it had freed hundreds of detained Buddhist monks who led the protests in Yangon.

The military, which has ruled this country also known as Burma for 45 years, rarely makes any concessions, but analysts warned the gestures were just a bid to ward off tougher international action.

"The regime is trying to cool down international pressure. The junta hopes to defuse pressure as the UN Security Council is likely to take some action against Burma following Gambari's briefing," Thailand-based Myanmar analyst Win Min said.

Junta leader Than Shwe has made a heavily conditioned offer to hold direct talks with Aung San Suu Kyi, but insisted that the Nobel peace prize winner first drop her support for sanctions and tell her supporters to stop confronting the government.

"It's a mixed signal. It showed Than Shwe at least recognized internal and international calls for dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi," Win Min said.

"But at the same time, the conditions set by the regime were not realistic at all. It looks like the regime really doesn't want to talk to her."

Aung San Suu Kyi, 62, has spent most of the last 18 years under house arrest, but she remains an international symbol of non-violent struggle against tyranny.

Protests against Myanmar's crackdown and in support of Aung San Suu Kyi were expected to take place around the world Saturday.

In one of the first rallies, hundreds of activists took to the streets in New Zealand while later demonstrations were planned for Taipei, Delhi, Geneva, London, Lisbon and Ottawa.

The United States has led global calls for her release and warned Friday that it may push for UN sanctions if the ruling junta kept up a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

After Gambari's briefing, the United States, Britain and France circulated a draft of a non-binding statement condemning Myanmar's government.

"The Security Council condemns the violent repression by the government of Myanmar of peaceful demonstrations, including the use of force against religious figures and institutions," the text said.

Gambari told reporters that there was a consensus among members of the Security Council that the status quo in Myanmar "is unacceptable and unsustainable and probably unrealistic."

He also said Aung San Suu Kyi appeared to be in good spirits when he met her.

"But now I think she wants this to be used as an opportunity to really engage in dialogue with the authorities so that together they can move the country forward," he told CNN.

Myanmar's neighbour China has previously sheltered the generals from action at the United Nations.

China's ambassador to the world body, Wang Guangyam, has warned that pressure for greater democratisation "would only lead to confrontation."

Sat Oct 6, 12:05 AM ET

UNITED NATIONS - The chief U.N. envoy to Myanmar urged the country's military rulers on Friday to strive toward democracy and quickly start talks with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The U.S. warned it will press for sanctions if the junta does not act.

"This is an hour of historic opportunity for Myanmar," Ibrahim Gambari told the U.N. Security Council following his four-day trip to the country after the government's crackdown on peaceful demonstrators and Buddhist monks. "To delay the prospect of a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Myanmar is to deny it to those who deserve it most, the people of Myanmar."

A dozen red-robed monks from Myanmar who now live in the United States sat in the front row of the visitors gallery listening intently.

Gambari said he is "cautiously encouraged" that the country's military ruler, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, said he would meet Suu Kyi "although with certain conditions." They include her giving up calls for confronting the government and for imposing sanctions against it, Myanmar state media said.

Gambari stressed, however, that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for talks without any preconditions to overcome "the high level of mistrust" between Than Shwe and Suu Kyi.

"From my own conversations (with Suu Kyi), she appears to be very anxious to have a proper dialogue," Gambari told reporters afterward.

"The expectation is ... not an open-ended dialogue, but dialogue that (is) targeted to achieving national reconciliation in an all-inclusive manner, a constitution that reflects the will of the majority of the people, and also a government that is responsive to the needs of their own people," he said.

Gambari, who met twice with Suu Kyi and once with Than Shwe during his visit, addressed the council shortly after the secretary-general urged Myanmar's military rulers to "take bold actions toward democratization and respect for human rights."

"I must reiterate that the use of force against peaceful demonstrators is abhorrent and unacceptable," Ban said, calling on the government to release all detainees "without further delay."

Gambari urged Myanmar's leadership "to make the bold choices" to demonstrate its commitment to democracy and national reconciliation.

The U.S., Britain and France circulated a draft presidential statement Friday night welcoming Gambari's mission, condemning the government's "violent repression" of peaceful demonstrations and calling for the immediate release of all detainees and political prisoners, including Suu Kyi, to promote "genuine reconciliation, dialogue and democratization."

The draft statement, which the council is expected to discuss next week, supports a dialogue between the government and opposition "without conditions."

Gambari, who said his mission helped convey the "urgent need" for action to the government, said he has been invited to return in mid-November but may try to go earlier.

The United States threatened to introduce a resolution seeking sanctions, including an arms embargo, against Myanmar if it does not move quickly toward national reconciliation and release thousands of detainees.

But China and Russia remain opposed to council action, saying the situation in Myanmar is an internal affair that does not threaten international peace and security.

Myanmar's U.N. ambassador, Kyaw Tint Swe, also urged the Security Council not to take any action, saying his country was committed to forging ahead with national reconciliation.

"Despite the recent tragic events, the situation in Myanmar is not, and I repeat not, a threat to either regional or international peace and security," the ambassador said. "No Security Council action is warranted."

Kyaw Tint Swe said stability had returned to his country and people have been holding peaceful, pro-government rallies "to demonstrate their aversion to recent, provocative demonstrations." Critics say such rallies are shams, filled with people ordered to attend by authorities.

Myanmar's junta took power in 1988 after crushing the democracy movement led by Suu Kyi. In 1990, it refused to hand over power when Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide election victory. Suu Kyi has been detained for nearly 12 of the last 18 years and is currently under house arrest.

"She looked better this time than last November when I last saw her," Gambari said.

Ban sent Gambari to Myanmar after troops quashed the protests with gunfire last week. The government said 10 people were killed, but dissident groups put the death toll at up to 200 and say 6,000 people were detained, including thousands of monks.

Myanmar's ambassador said Friday that 2,095 detainees had been released, including 728 monks, and that more releases will follow.

Meanwhile, actor Jim Carrey said Friday the international community was sanctioning the Myanmar crackdown by failing to take firm action against the military junta.

At a news conference near U.N. headquarters, Carrey urged the Security Council to pass a resolution authorizing an arms embargo against Myanmar, saying "this is a government that uses its weapons not in self-defense but against its own citizens."

Carrey is one of numerous celebrities who have signed a letter calling on Ban to help win the freedom of Suu Kyi.

Sat Oct 6, 12:00 AM ET

UNITED NATIONS - Key western members of the UN Security Council late Friday circulated a draft statement condemning the "violent repression" by Myanmar's military regime of anti-government protests.

"The Security Council condemns the violent repression by the Government of Myanmar of peaceful demonstrations, including the use of force against religious figures and institutions," said the text drafted by the United States, Britain and France and submitted to other members of the council.

It noted "with concern continuing mass detentions, and calls on the Government of Myanmar to exercise utmost restraint and to cease repressive measures, as an essential first step in de-escalating the situation."

The non-binding statement, which requires consensus by all 15 council members to be adopted, was circulated after the council heard a briefing by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari on his recent four-day mission to Myanmar.

It is to be discussed by the Security Council at expert level on Monday.

The text welcomed Gambari's mission and his briefing to the council.

It called for "the immediate release of those detained, and ... for those injured to be allowed access to proper medical care, and for a full account to be provided of those jailed, missing, or killed following the recent peaceful demonstrations."

It also urged Myanmar's rulers to release all political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, "in order to permit dialogue with leaders of all political and ethnic groups in support of an inclusive process of genuine reconciliation, dialogue and democratization."

It stressed the need for the ruling junta "to engage without further delay in such a process, with the direct support of the United Nations."

And it underscored the Council's "support for the early return to Myanmar of Mr. Gambari, in order to maintain momentum and maximize the prospects for concrete progress."

Gambari earlier Friday said he now planned to return to Myanmar before mid-November, the time he had earlier arranged.

The draft also contained a council appeal to the ruling generals "to ensure full and unlimited access for Mr. Gambari during his visit."