BURMA:The military junta in Burma (Myanmar) is expelling the leading United Nations diplomat in the country for highlighting the deepening economic crisis there, casting a shadow over a weekend visit by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
UN officials said yesterday that Charles Petrie had been summoned to Burma's new capital, Naypyitaw, for an official dressing down over a statement he released on United Nations Day, October 24th.
After the meeting, Mr Petrie and his colleagues were given a letter saying that the military government would not be renewing his credentials, which expire "pretty much now", a Rangoon-based diplomat said.
"They were basically not very happy with the statement," said one UN official. "The government has emphasised that they do not want him to continue to work in Myanmar."
In New York, the UN said that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was disappointed with the junta's move. Mr Ban had "full confidence in the United Nations country team and its leadership", said his spokeswoman, Michele Montas. She added that Mr Ban endorsed the views in the statement issued by Mr Petrie.
It was not known when Mr Petrie would leave Burma.
Ms Montas said that he would meet Mr Gambari on his arrival on Saturday for a second visit since September's bloody crackdown on the religious-led pro-democracy protests.