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UNITED NATIONS : The United Nations Security Council met in New York to consult on what to do next over the crisis in Myanmar.
There is no new UN Resolution and talk of sanctions is firmly outside the UN.
The international community is stepping up the pressure on Myanmar.
The Security Council met in closed session while UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon announced that his special envoy to the region Ibrahim Gambari is heading to the region. He has not yet been given permission to enter Myanmar and is expected to travel to Bangkok first.
The United States is urging Yangon to do so.
The US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, said it is better for Mr Gambari to go to the region now and do what he can to prevent furtmore casualties.
Meanwhile, there has been no agreement reached in the council regarding the Myanmar crisis.
"Member of Council have expressed their concern regarding the situation and urged restraint from the government of Myanmar," said Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, Permanent representative of France to the UN.
China objects to the matter being brought up in the council at all.
With the council deadlocked, the US is pursuing unilateral sanctions announced by US President Bush during his General Assembly speech.
And the European Union is set to follow as well.
But action by the Security Council seems unlikely anytime soon, as veto-wielding members China and Russia are holding firm. - CNA /ls
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