UN rights envoy in Burma briefing

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The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva is due to be briefed by its special investigator on human rights in Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro.

Mr Pinheiro was allowed into Burma last month for the first time in four years, in the wake of September's government crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

In a report on the crackdown, released on Friday, he says he doubts the government's version of the events.

He says that at least 31 people died and not 15, as the government suggests.

'Much more'

In an interview with the BBC on Friday, Mr Pinheiro said he believed the Burmese government needed to provide more accurate information about the number of deaths arising from September's crackdown.

He also voiced doubts about the regime's figures for numbers of detainees.

"My main preoccupation, besides establishing the number of casualties, is the number of people who continue in detention, between 500 and 1,000," he said.

"There are much more than only 93 people... the number that the government recognises."

His report concludes with a number of recommendations which he wants the Burmese government to implement immediately.

These include an unconditional amnesty for all those detained, and an independent investigation into what he said were killings, severe beatings, hostage-taking and torture.

According to the BBC's correspondent in Geneva, Imogen Foulkes, these recommendations are likely to get the backing of the UN Human Rights Council.

But the council cannot force Burma - so the real question, our correspondent adds, is how much the regime will agree to.