UN chief to send special envoy to Burma

 He called on the generals in Burma to cooperate fully with his mission in order to take advantage of the willingness of the UN to assist in the process of national reconciliation through dialogue, according to a statement issued by the spokesperson of the UN chief.

"Noting reports of the use of force and of arrests and beatings, the Secretary-General calls again on authorities to exercise utmost restraint towards the peaceful demonstrations taking place, as such action can only undermine the prospects for peace, prosperity and stability in Myanmar (Burma)," it said.

Gambari's last time in Burma was May 2006. He made his latest trip to Southeast Asia last month which brought him to see many senior officials of Asean members including Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram.

The special envoy briefed about his previous trip and mission to a meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday.

His briefing to the 15-member body previously said that the recent events were clear set back for the country.

Gambari has not yet got permission from Burmese leaders in Naypyidaw to get into the country. He needed to hang around in the region until he got a green right from the generals to begin his process, the UN Secretary General's spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters at the UN Headquarters.

US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice supported the UN move saying the junta must issue visa for Gambari immediately and he should be allowed to see opposition leader including Aung San Suu Kyi while he was there.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday threw its support behind an expected visit by Gambari to Burma, hoping it will happen "as soon as possible."France's Ambassador to the UN Jean-Maurice Ripert, the council chairman for this month, told reporters after an emergency meeting that council members expressed "strong support" for Gambari's mission to Burma.

World leaders and ministers at the UN General Assembly condemned the crackdown in Rangoon which reportedly killed at least five people.

The United States and the European Union issued a joint statement decrying the assault on peaceful demonstrators and calling on the junta to open talk with democracy activists, including detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"The regime has reacted brutally to people who were simply protesting peacefully," Rice said.

"We really do call on the regime to cease all violence and to lay a framework, lay a foundation for a peaceful discussion so that there can be reconciliation and a return to a more free and democratic life for the people of Burma," she added.

Supalak G Khundee

The Nation, United Nations