UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is sending special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to Myanmar amid reports of political turmoil in the Southeast Asian country, said a UN statement Wednesday.

    Ban called on Myanmar's government to "cooperate fully with this mission in order to take advantage of the willingness of the United Nations to assist in the process of national reconciliation through dialogue," said the statement by Ban's spokesperson Wednesday.

    Ban also urged Myanmar's authorities to exercise utmost restraint toward the peaceful demonstrations taking place in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar.

    Myanmar's military leaders imposed a curfew and banned gatherings of more than five people Tuesday after thousands of Buddhist monks and their supporters defied the authorities' warnings and staged another day of anti-government protests.

    Hundreds of armed soldiers and police officers have reportedly been mobilized to end the protest movement.

Monks take part in a march against the government in Yangon Sept. 25, 2007. Myanmar's military leaders imposed a curfew and banned gatherings of more than five people Tuesday after thousands of Buddhist monks and their supporters defied the authorities' warnings and staged another day of anti-government protests. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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UN Security Council supports Ban's envoy to visit Myanmar

    UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Wednesday threw its support behind an expected visit by UN chief's envoy Ibrahim Gambari to Myanmar, hoping it will happen "as soon as possible." 

China believes Myanmar gov't could properly handle current situation

    BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China hopes and believes Myanmar government and people could properly handle the current situation, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu on Tuesday.

Demonstrations going on in Myanmar biggest city despite ban

    YANGON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Some young Buddhist monks and people were still staging demonstrations in some areas of Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon Wednesday afternoon despite imposition of curfew order and ban of demonstration in the city since Tuesday night. 

    United Nations, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday announced new sanctions against Myanmar, an Asian country that has been at odds with the United States over democracy.

    "The United States will tighten economic sanctions on the leaders of the regime and their financial backers, and we will impose an expanded visa ban on those responsible for the most egregious violations of human rights as well as their family members," said Bush in a speech to the UN General Assembly.