Burma's crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators drew condemnation and sparked protests today, with the top US diplomat in the reclusive nation calling the violence "tragic" and the European Uniondenouncing "gross and systematic violations of human rights."
The United Nationssaid it will convene an emergency session on human rights abuses and dispatched an envoy to Burma who could arrive as early tomorrow. Britain demanded an end to "oppression and force" against the demonstrators.
Burma's Asian neighbours expressed "revulsion" at the violence and urged the military rulers to seek a political solution. Japansaid it had asked Chinato use its influence with junta to resolve the crisis. In neighboring Thailand, officials said airplanes were standing by to evacuate foreigners if conditions deteriorated further.
Following telephone talks with President Bushand Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, British Prime Minister Gordon Brownsaid "we believe the loss of life is far greater than is being reported so far."
"The military was out in force before they even gathered and moved quickly as small groups appeared breaking them up with gunfire, tear gas and clubs," Shari Villarosa, the top US diplomat in Burma, said.
"It's tragic. These were peaceful demonstrators, very well-behaved," she said.
The US tightened sanctions on Burma, saying it would freeze any assets held by 14 top officials in the junta within US jurisdiction, and banning US citizens from doing business with them.
"Clearly the government of Burma, the regime there, is facing a population that does not want to suffer quietly under its rule anymore," said State Department spokesman Tom Casey.
"We are calling on them to do the right thing, to do what the people deserve and open a dialogue with them, with the legitimate political opposition, including to release those that they hold in detention and to start the long overdue process of national reconciliation and the creation of a country in which all Burmese are free to participate."
The UN special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, headed to the country to promote a political solution and could arrive as early as tomorrow, one Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
In Geneva, diplomats said the U.N. Human Rights Council said they would call an emergency session on Burma on Tuesday after a petition led by Western countries gained the support of one third of the body's 47 nations.
The European Unionexpressed "solidarity with the people of Myanmar (Burma)," saying they were exercising their rights of peaceful demonstration.
"We strongly condemn all violence against peaceful demonstrators," an EU statement said, adding that European nations were "strongly concerned with the gross and systematic violations of human rights in Myanmar."