Western powers circulated a draft statement on Burma to the UN Security Council last night that condemned repression by the junta and demanded it free political detainees and begin a dialogue with the opposition.
The draft came hours after a report to the 15-member council yesterday morning by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who warned the Burmese government of serious consequences of its actions.
Drafted by the United States, Britain and France, the statement said a return to the situation before the past weeks of demonstrations by pro-democracy activists and their forcible suppression by the military government would be unacceptable.
The draft condemned Burma's "violent repression ... of peaceful demonstrations" and called on authorities to "cease repressive measures."
Security Council statements have to be unanimous, so the draft will need to be approved by, among others, China, which has in the past blocked UN action against Burma, renamed Myanmar by the ruling junta.
Diplomats said experts from council member states would discuss the text on Monday, which could lead to changes.
Unlike a resolution, a statement has no legal force. But if a strongly worded text were approved by China, until now Burma's closest ally on the council, it would send a forceful message to the junta.
China and the United States clashed over whether the international community should take any action through the UN Security Council, with Beijing insisting the crisis was an internal affair.
Mr Gambari, addressing the Security Council after a four-day visit to Burma, called for the release of all political prisoners there and voiced concern at reports of continuing government abuses after last week's huge protests.
"Of great concern to the United Nations and the international community are the continuing and disturbing reports of abuses being committed by security and non-uniformed elements, particularly at night during curfew, including raids on private homes, beatings, arbitrary arrests, and disappearances," Mr Gambari told the council.