Brown calls for harder EU stance on Burma if leadership 'makes wrong choices'

BOURNEMOUTH (Thomson Financial) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called on the EU to take a tougher line on the Burma military junta, urging it to impose tougher sanctions if the regime makes 'the wrong choices'.

In a letter to the EU Portuguese presidency issued at the Labour Party conference here, Brown said he would 'strongly support' an initiative warning Burma, which is also known as Myanmar, that 'we are watching their behaviour and that the EU will impose tougher EU sanctions' if necessary.

'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 told his Portuguese counterpart, Jose Socrates.

'It is disturbing that they are now threatening to use force against the demonstrators.'

Brown has also written a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, calling for 'concerted international action' to discourage violence in Burma.

'I would support the idea of your calling on the Burmese government to receive a visit by your special envoy Ibrahim Gambari as soon as possible,' said.

'I am also happy to support any efforts you make to encourage further discussion in the (UN) Security Council and to encourage key regional countries to urge the Burmese government to pursue reconciliation.'

Burma's military regime has faced five weeks of peaceful protests that were sparked by a massive increase in fuel prices in August.

Over the last week, Buddhist monks have emerged at the forefront of the protest movement, which has gathered pace in recent days, with tens of thousands taking to the streets in Yangon and in towns across the country.

Eleven military trucks, each with about 20 soldiers and riot police, were deployed today around the Yangon city hall, after Buddhist monks led a major anti-government protest, witnesses said.

Just hours earlier, Buddhist monks had led 100,000 people on a march through the city and protesters had stood on the sidewalk outside the city hall to deliver speeches calling for national reconciliation.

Myanmar's military government had sternly warned the protesters not to continue their rallies, which have run for eight consecutive days in Yangon. [e-mail] fp/am COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.