Hundreds protest over Burma

Ibrahim Gambari held talks lasting around 90 minutes with Aung San Suu Kyi in a move that sparked hope for a peaceful resolution to events.

Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for several years, is widely known as the main figurehead of the pro-democracy campaign in the Asian country, which has seen thousands of people publicly standing up to the repressive junta.

It came as up to a thousand demonstrators marched past Downing Street in central London and called for the international community to step up pressure on the brutal dictators. There were also gatherings in cities such as Newcastle and Brighton as the internet once again showed its power in mobilising public support for the Burmese people.

In London, the march was led from Trafalgar Square by a Buddhist monk while various members of the UK's Burmese community, many of whom have fled persecution, carried banners, flags and tow large portraits of Suu Kyi.

John Jackson, a founding member of the Burma Campaign UK, who has been to the country to interview Suu Kyi three times, said he was very hopeful that continuing international pressure would make its mark.

He said that although there was no "silver bullet" solving the crisis, it was important that every country play their role in pushing for further effective sanctions on the Junta.

"In Burma, the organisation, discipline and strength of the demonstrations have been the most remarkable thing. That is what makes me think that this time it is not a movement that will simply just be put down by troops on the streets," Mr Jackson said.

He added: "People have been pushed to a place where levels of poverty and unemployment are so bad that they are determined that this time they will succeed."

Mr Jackson added that there was evidence that possible cracks were beginning to appear in the military's organisation, with some troops refusing to fire on protesters.