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Gambari prepares key Burma report Monks 'seeking to flee Rangoon'
(about 1 hour later)
A UN envoy is preparing a key report on his talks with Burma's leaders amid global concern over a bloody government crackdown on pro-democracy protests. Scores of monks are trying to leave Burma's main city, Rangoon, following the military's bloody crackdown on anti-government protests, reports say.
On Tuesday, Ibrahim Gambari met Burma's top military leaders to voice concern over the violence. He also met pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Witnesses said many monks were at the railway station while bus drivers were said to be refusing to take them out of fear they would not be allowed petrol.
He is likely to brief the UN Security Council later this week. Hundreds of people have now been detained, with more arrests overnight.
Rangoon, Burma's main city, was said to be very quiet, with troops maintaining a tight grip. A UN envoy is preparing a key report on his talks with Burma's leaders amid global concern over the situation.
There were more arrests overnight, Reuters news agency reported, and military vehicles drove up and down the streets using loudspeakers to warn protesters that they would arrest them, other reports said. The envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, met top military leaders to voice concern over the violence. He also met pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Briefing diplomats He is expected to brief both UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council later this week.
Mr Gambari's report on his talks with Burma's military rulers will be keenly anticipated by the international community. Missing monks
Gen Than Shwe heads the ruling junta and controls the army class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7022475.stm">Buddhist monk's view class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7024825.stm">Waiting game in Rangoon class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7019882.stm">Exiles in desperate conditions Mr Gambari was despatched to Burma last week after police and soldiers used violence to halt almost two weeks of anti-government protests.
The UN envoy is currently in Singapore, where he held a brief meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, but did not talk to journalists. class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7022475.stm">Buddhist monk's view class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7024825.stm">Waiting game in Rangoon class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7019882.stm">Exiles in desperate conditions
His spokeswoman said that he would meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday and probably brief the Security Council on Friday, the French news agency AFP said. The authorities said 10 people were killed, although diplomats and activists believe the number of dead is many times higher.
"The first reports are that he did get to meet with several of the people that he wanted to meet with," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. Hundreds of monks - who led the protests - have been detained and sources have told the BBC they will be sent to prisons in the far north of the country.
"But we won't know fully until he's able to return to the United Nations and report to the Security Council." Other protesters are also said to be missing.
'Shocking response' Reports from Rangoon said around 25 more monks were arrested by security forces in a raid on a temple overnight.
Mr Gambari was despatched to Burma last week after police and soldiers used violence to halt almost two weeks of popular protests. Witnesses reported many monks stranded at bus stations, unable to get out of the city, and few monks were seen on the streets.
The authorities said 10 people were killed, though diplomats and activists say the number of dead was many times higher. Rangoon was said to be quiet, with troops maintaining a heavy presence and warning protesters to stay away. An eyewitness there said that people seemed very scared.
Troops are maintaining a heavy presence in Rangoon On Tuesday the UN's top human rights official, Louise Arbour, called on the junta to give "precise and verifiable information" on the number of dead and injured as well as "the whereabouts and condition of those who have been arrested".
Thousands of monks - who led the protests - have been detained and sources from a government-sponsored militia told the BBC they would soon be sent to prisons in the far north of the country. Other protesters are also said to be missing. Army defector
On Tuesday the UN's top human rights official said that Burma's government had to be held to account for its "shocking response" to the protests. Meanwhile, footage has emerged of a Burmese army officer who fled to Thailand in the first apparent defection since the crackdown.
"The Myanmar [Burmese] authorities should no longer expect that their self-imposed isolation will shield them from accountability," High Commissioner Louise Arbour told a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. HAVE YOUR SAY The problem of Burma, like that of Zimbabwe, will not be solved without a change in moral values and China's attitude to human rights Ntsane Lesenyeho, Lesotho class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7541&edition=1">Send us your comments
She called on the junta to give "precise and verifiable information" on the number of dead and injured as well as "the whereabouts and condition of those who have been arrested". HAVE YOUR SAY The problem of Burma, like that of Zimbawe, will not be solved without a change in moral values and China's attitude to human rights Ntsane Lesenyeho, Lesotho class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7541&edition=1">Send us your comments The officer, whose unit was ordered to Rangoon to deal with the protests, said he did not want to beat or shoot monks - who are revered in Burmese society.
Japan, meanwhile, has said it may cut aid to Burma over to the death of one of its journalists during the crackdown. The officer is now seeking asylum abroad.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura told journalists that aid could be suspended, but gave no further details, Kyodo news agency reported. The BBC's Chris Hogg says that this is a rare split in the ranks which dissident groups will attempt to exploit as evidence that some younger officers are opposed to the brutal crackdown by the country's leaders.
Video journalist Kenji Nagai, 50, was shot in the chest as he filmed protests in Rangoon. Video footage appeared to show a government soldier firing directly at him. So far, though, there is no sign that others are prepared to follow his lead, our correspondent says.
His body is due to be flown back to Tokyo on Thursday.

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