UN council deplores crushing of protests

The UN Security Council yesterday deplored Myanmar's crushing of pro-democracy protests and urged political dialogue, in a statement uniting Western powers and China for the first time.

The statement said "all political prisoners and remaining detainees" should be released soon and called on the junta that has ruled Myanmar for four decades to prepare for a "genuine dialogue" with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The official policy statement is not legally binding but because - unlike a resolution - it required the consent of all 15 council members it left the Myanmar government isolated, Western diplomats said.

It was the first time the council had taken official action on Myanmar and marked a shift of position by China, a neighbour and key trading partner of Myanmar that had previously used its veto to prevent criticism of the country's authorities.

The United Nations said special envoy Ibrahim Gambari would leave over the weekend for an Asian tour expected to culminate in his second visit to Myanmar since the junta cracked down on the demonstrations led by Buddhist monks last month.

Myanmar authorities admits 10 people were killed, but Western governments says the toll is likely to be much higher.

"I think it is significant... because it makes absolutely clear that the government of Burma is isolated from all world opinion in its actions of recent weeks," said Britain's UN Ambassador John Sawers, using Myanmar's former name.