UN human-rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro has visited a notorious prison in Burma, as part of his inquiry into a military crackdown on recent protests.
UN human-rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro has visited a notorious prison in Burma, as part of his inquiry into a military crackdown on recent protests.
Mr Pinheiro, on his first trip to Burma since 2003, spent more than an hour at the Insein jail in Rangoon, where the ruling junta holds political prisoners.
Mr Pinheiro, on his first trip to Burma since 2003, spent more than an hour at the Insein jail in Rangoon, where the ruling junta holds political prisoners.
He is investigating how many people were killed after anti-government protests were crushed in September.
He is investigating how many people were killed after anti-government protests were crushed in September.
The military says 10 people died. Others put the figure at more than 100.
The military says 10 people died. Others put the figure at more than 100.
The Brazilian diplomat has said he will leave immediately if the authorities fail to co-operate.
The Brazilian diplomat has said he will leave immediately if the authorities fail to co-operate.
It was not clear who he met at the jail - where previous inmates have described torture, abysmal conditions and long stretches in solitary confinement.
It was not clear who he met at the jail - where previous inmates have described torture, abysmal conditions and long stretches in solitary confinement.
But reports suggested he was trying to contact two of the leaders of the protests against fuel prices in August, which snowballed into nationwide anti-government marches after thousands of Buddhist monks became involved.
But reports suggested he was trying to contact two of the leaders of the protests against fuel prices in August, which snowballed into nationwide anti-government marches after thousands of Buddhist monks became involved.
He also visited Buddhist monasteries raided by the authorities following the protests.
He also visited Buddhist monasteries raided by the authorities following the protests.
Military resentment
Military resentment
His visit comes shortly after UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari spent six days in Burma, meeting a number of ministers as well as detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
His visit comes shortly after UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari spent six days in Burma, meeting a number of ministers as well as detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The UN said afterwards that a path to "substantive dialogue" was now under way.
The UN said afterwards that a path to "substantive dialogue" was now under way.
Mr Pinheiro did not speak to reporters as he arrived in Rangoon, Reuters news agency reported.
Mr Pinheiro did not speak to reporters as he arrived in Rangoon, Reuters news agency reported.
Mr Pinheiro wants full and free access to political prisoners
Mr Pinheiro wants full and free access to political prisoners
The BBC's Asia correspondent Andrew Harding says Mr Pinheiro will need free and unrestricted access to Burmese prisoners to do his job.
The BBC's Asia correspondent Andrew Harding says Mr Pinheiro will need free and unrestricted access to Burmese prisoners to do his job.
The military government clearly resents this sort of intervention, our correspondent says.
The military government clearly resents this sort of intervention, our correspondent says.
The Red Cross has suspended its own prison visits because it is no longer allowed private access to detainees.
The Red Cross has suspended its own prison visits because it is no longer allowed private access to detainees.
There is some evidence that external and internal pressure is beginning to have an impact on Burma's generals - and the fact that Mr Pinheiro is being allowed in is a concession of sorts, our correspondent adds.
There is some evidence that external and internal pressure is beginning to have an impact on Burma's generals - and the fact that Mr Pinheiro is being allowed in is a concession of sorts, our correspondent adds.
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