UN calls for Burma 'restraint'

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The council expressed concern at the government's violent response to demonstrations in the reclusive Asian nation - renamed Myanmar by the military junta - and gave its strong backing to the UN secretary-general's special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari.

The move followed a call from Prime Minister Gordon Brown for an urgent meeting of the Security Council to make clear to the junta that "the whole world is now watching Burma".

Mr Gambari briefed the emergency meeting of the council behind closed doors on the latest developments and was then leaving for the region.

The council urged Burmese authorities to give him a visa so he could enter the country.

Council diplomats said China, which has close economic ties to Burma, did not want any statement issued after the closed-door session, but relented and agreed to a brief press statement which was read to reporters by France's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert.

"Members of the council have expressed their concern vis a vis the situation, and have urged restraint, especially from the government of Myanmar," the statement said.

The council expressed its "strong support" for the UN's "good offices" mission.

It went on: "They welcomed the decision by the secretary-general to urgently dispatch his special envoy to the region and underline the importance that Mr Gambari be received by the authorities of Myanmar as soon as possible."

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the country's government to exercise "utmost restraint" and announced that Mr Gambari was heading to the region immediately to press the UN's offer to help promote national reconciliation through dialogue.