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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Brown urges restraint in Burma | Brown urges restraint in Burma |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged the Burmese authorities to "exercise restraint" in their handling of pro-democracy demonstrations. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged the Burmese authorities to "exercise restraint" in their handling of pro-democracy demonstrations. |
| He called for "immediate international action" to stop a threatened military crackdown on the protests. | He called for "immediate international action" to stop a threatened military crackdown on the protests. |
| Mr Brown spoke as several thousand monks and civilians once again took to the streets in Burma's capital Rangoon. | Mr Brown spoke as several thousand monks and civilians once again took to the streets in Burma's capital Rangoon. |
| Earlier, a cross-party group of MPs urged the United Nations to pass a resolution supporting the protesters. | Earlier, a cross-party group of MPs urged the United Nations to pass a resolution supporting the protesters. |
| The prime minister made his remarks in letters sent to the European Union president, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. | The prime minister made his remarks in letters sent to the European Union president, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. |
| On Monday, there were protests in at least 25 towns and tens of thousands of people marched in Rangoon. | On Monday, there were protests in at least 25 towns and tens of thousands of people marched in Rangoon. |
| 'Despicable regime' | |
| The junta said it was ready to take "tough action" against the Buddhist monks leading the rallies, but many ignored the threat and returned to the streets on Tuesday. | The junta said it was ready to take "tough action" against the Buddhist monks leading the rallies, but many ignored the threat and returned to the streets on Tuesday. |
| In 1988, the military government violently repressed a pro-democracy uprising, killing some 3,000 people. | In 1988, the military government violently repressed a pro-democracy uprising, killing some 3,000 people. |
| Mr Brown said it was "disturbing" that the government had threatened to use force against protesters. | Mr Brown said it was "disturbing" that the government had threatened to use force against protesters. |
| From Burma to Zimbabwe, we need to ensure all countries feel it's better to play by the rules rather than ignore them Foreign Secretary David Miliband | From Burma to Zimbabwe, we need to ensure all countries feel it's better to play by the rules rather than ignore them Foreign Secretary David Miliband |
| "It is vital that the Burmese authorities exercise restraint in the face of the demonstrators and seize the opportunity to launch a process of real political reform," he wrote. | "It is vital that the Burmese authorities exercise restraint in the face of the demonstrators and seize the opportunity to launch a process of real political reform," he wrote. |
| Writing to Mr Socrates, the prime minister said: "I would strongly support a presidency initiative to warn the Burmese government that we are watching their behaviour and that the EU will impose tougher EU sanctions if they make the wrong choices." | Writing to Mr Socrates, the prime minister said: "I would strongly support a presidency initiative to warn the Burmese government that we are watching their behaviour and that the EU will impose tougher EU sanctions if they make the wrong choices." |
| And in his letter to the UN secretary general, Mr Brown wrote: "We need concerted international action, including the UN, to discourage violence. We need to stand together." | And in his letter to the UN secretary general, Mr Brown wrote: "We need concerted international action, including the UN, to discourage violence. We need to stand together." |
| Conservative MP for Buckingham John Bercow, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on democracy in Burma, told the BBC the country's military regime was "despicable". | Conservative MP for Buckingham John Bercow, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on democracy in Burma, told the BBC the country's military regime was "despicable". |
| "The most important action that can be taken is by the United Nations which needs to pass a resolution which sets up a clear timetable for measurable improvements by the regime, failing the achievement of which, much more robust sanctions would be applied," he said. | "The most important action that can be taken is by the United Nations which needs to pass a resolution which sets up a clear timetable for measurable improvements by the regime, failing the achievement of which, much more robust sanctions would be applied," he said. |
| 'Sustained challenge' | |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the Labour Conference on Tuesday that he wanted to see Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi installed in "her rightful place" as the country's elected leader. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the Labour Conference on Tuesday that he wanted to see Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi installed in "her rightful place" as the country's elected leader. |
| "From Burma to Zimbabwe, we need to ensure all countries feel it's better to play by the rules rather than ignore them," Mr Miliband added. | "From Burma to Zimbabwe, we need to ensure all countries feel it's better to play by the rules rather than ignore them," Mr Miliband added. |
| Dr Maung Zarni, of the Free Burma Coalition, told the BBC the junta was shutting down e-mail communications. | Dr Maung Zarni, of the Free Burma Coalition, told the BBC the junta was shutting down e-mail communications. |
| They've been able to get video photographs out, which are then shown all over the world Martin MorelandFormer ambassador to Burma Monks defy army warning | They've been able to get video photographs out, which are then shown all over the world Martin MorelandFormer ambassador to Burma Monks defy army warning |
| "The government obviously is sufficiently threatened by growing protests," he said. | "The government obviously is sufficiently threatened by growing protests," he said. |
| "That is why we are seeing the warning from the government to the people not to come out and join the protesters." | "That is why we are seeing the warning from the government to the people not to come out and join the protesters." |
| Demonstrators gathered at the Burmese Embassy in London to call on the government to cut diplomatic ties with Burma if the authorities there ignored international pressure. | |
| Around 40 men and women chanted pro-democracy slogans during an hour-long protest in Mayfair. | |
| Ko Aung, who fled the country after the 1988 uprising, said:"The nature of the regime is to crush down demonstrations. They never come up with solutions to solve it peacefully. | |
| "Now it is difficult for them, this is a sustained challenge to the regime." | |
| Martin Moreland, who was the British ambassador in Rangoon during the 1988 uprising, said the monks were using mobile telephones to send pictures of protests to international media. | |
| "They've been able to get video photographs out, which are then shown all over the world," Mr Moreland said. | "They've been able to get video photographs out, which are then shown all over the world," Mr Moreland said. |
| "(In 1988) there was practically no television coverage and it didn't make nearly such an impact." | "(In 1988) there was practically no television coverage and it didn't make nearly such an impact." |
| American President George W Bush is set to announce new sanctions against Burma and its financial backers. | American President George W Bush is set to announce new sanctions against Burma and its financial backers. |