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UNITED NATONS : The UN Security Council on Wednesday urged Myanmar's military rulers to allow a visit by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari "as soon as possible" and to show restraint in their showdown with anti-government protesters.
France's UN Ambassador 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 Myanmar.
Members emphasised "the importance that Mr Gambari be received by the authorities of Myanmar as soon as possible" and expressed "concern" about the deadly clashes between Myanmar's security forces and anti-government protesters.
The members also appealed for restraint, particularly on the part of Myanmar's rulers.
Earlier on Wednesday, UN chief Ban Ki-moon decided to send Gambari to the region and urged Myanmar's military rulers "to cooperate fully" with his good offices mission aimed at assisting "in the process of national reconciliation through dialogue."
Marie Okabe, a UN spokeswoman, said Gambari would head to Southeast Asia immediately after his briefing on Wednesday and would await permission from Myanmar leaders to enter the country.
At least four people were killed and 100 injured on Wednesday as Myanmar's security forces clamped down on anti-government protests led by Buddhist monks in Yangon, according to officials and witnesses.
Up to 100,000 people defied heavy security to take to the streets, despite warnings from the ruling generals who are facing the most serious challenge to their rule in nearly two decades.
China's UN envoy Wang Guangya, speaking in his national capacity, said he wanted to see the return of stability in Myanmar, which maintains close ties with Beijing.
But he stressed that sanctions against Myanmar's military rulers would not be "helpful" despite the bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters.
"We understand that the situation there is a bit complicated... We hope that the government and people (of Myanmar) could sort out their differences and restore stability," Wang said.
In January, China and Russia vetoed a draft resolution in the Security Council that would have urged Myanmar's rulers to free all political detainees and end sexual violence by the military.
The rare double veto by China and Russia came despite attempts by the United States to water down the draft's language.
Opponents of the draft then argued said the Myanmar issue did not represent a threat to international peace and security and was best handled by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council.
In Moscow, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday the bloody crackdown on mass street protests by Myanmar authorities was an "internal matter". - AFP/de
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