Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
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October 6, 2007

UN Security Council Considers Statement Condemning Burma for
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Repression
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19C26E4:A6F02AD83191E16014024CCCA24497B99574F7DCC14957C0 Draft statement
demands release of political prisoners Key Western powers on the U.N.
Security Council circulated a draft statement late Friday condemning
repression by Burma's military government, and demanding the release
of political prisoners.

Drafted by the United States, Britain and France, the statement
condemned what it called the "violent repression" of peaceful
demonstrations, and it demanded the government begin a dialogue with
the opposition.







U.N. Envoy Ibrahim Gambari briefs members of the United Nations
Security Council on his recent tour and findings in Burma, 05 Oct
2007The non-binding statement, which requires consensus by all 15
Security Council members to be adopted, was circulated after the
Council heard a briefing by U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari on his recent
four-day mission to Burma.

Gambari demanded that Burma immediately release all political
prisoners, including those detained during the recent pro-democracy
protests.

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Friday, Washington will
introduce a resolution imposing sanctions such as an arms embargo if
the Burmese government does not respond appropriately to the
international community's concerns.







Kyaw Tint Swe, Permanent Representative of Burma to the United
Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in
his country, 05 Oct 2007China opposed pressuring Burma, saying that
could lead to mistrust and confrontation, while Burma's Ambassador
Kyaw Tint Swe said no action by the Security Council is warranted.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe told VOA
that Washington wants to see a free and prosperous Burma where people
can march in the streets and say what they want without being
persecuted.

Burmese state media acknowledged Friday that hundreds of monks were
detained during the crackdown, but it said all but 109 have been
released. The announcement followed Thursday's report that authorities
arrested more than 2,000 people during the past week.

Also Friday, a press freedom group called on Burma to release all
detained journalists, including six arrested during last week's
crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

Reporters Without Borders said at least 11 journalists are currently
in Burmese jails. Japanese reporter Kenji Nagai was shot and killed
while covering the rallies in Rangoon.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.


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