UN envoy meets with Singapore's prime minister

Gambari met with the country's top military leader, Senior General Than Shwe, and then pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi before arriving in the city-state Tuesday night enroute to New York where he is to report back to the UN Security Council..

Lee, in his capacity as chairman of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), sharply rebuked Burmese military leaders during Gambari's visit for the killings of protesters and Buddhist monks during street demonstrations in several cities.

In backing Gambari's mission, Lee said in a letter that the violence "evoked the revulsion of the people throughout South-East Asia and all over the world." 

His message followed a similar one issued by Asean leaders on the sidelines of UN meeting in New York.

Asean comprises Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Burma.

Diplomats have cautioned against expecting immediate results from Gambari's visit. Opposition groups in Myanmar also held out little hope, maintaining it would not be fruitful unless a meeting is arranged between Suu Kyi and Than Shwe.

The military has ruled Myanmar since 1962. The current junta came to power in 1988 after crushing an even larger pro-democracy movement.

The generals called elections in 1990 but refused to give up power when Suu Kyi's party won.

Asean, which admitted Myanmar into its fold in 1997, broke away from its long-held principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of members with the strong criticism of the brutal suppression.

Former UN envoy Razali Ismail told The Straits Times that Asean must go further than statements chastising the military crackdown.

"The problem isn't going to be solved by making statements and following them up at the next Asean conference," he was quoted as saying.

"Asean should seriously consider sending its own observer to Myanmar," said the former UN point man on Burma. "That will turn up the heat on the military rulers and help the UN efforts."//DPA