Burma's main political and economic allies, China and Japan, joined other nations around the world in urging the country to use peaceful means to restore stability. The United States called on "all civilized nations" to press Burma's leaders to end their crackdown on demonstrators.
Japan, Burma's biggest aid contributor, lodged a protest over the death of a Japanese journalist, who was among at least nine people killed Thursday when soldiers fired automatic weapons into a crowd of unarmed demonstrators.
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said in a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown that China was "very much concerned about the current situation" in Myanmar, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"China hopes all parties in Myanmar [Burma] exercise restraint and use peaceful means to restore its stability as soon as possible," Wen said. He added the international community should offer constructive help to resolve the situation.
The White House accused Burmese military government of attempting to hide the violence, and urged "all civilized nations" to pressure the junta to stop it.
"They don't want the world to see what is going on there," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Friday.
Laura Bush, the wife of US President George W Bush, and an advocate in recent weeks for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, a prisoner of the junta, made a personal appeal for support for Burmese citizens. She said the acts of violence there "shame the military regime."
Bush and Brown talked about the situation via a video teleconference on Friday and agreed on the importance of the visit to Burma by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
Stanzel said they agreed on "the need for countries around the world to continue to make their views clear to the junta."
Western diplomats were already complaining that Gambari would probably not be able to meet with senior opposition members or—apparently—the country's leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe. His schedule was being set by Burmese government.
Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura protested the death of video journalist Kenji Nagai, 50, calling it "extremely regrettable," in a meeting with his Burmese counterpart, Nyan Win, at UN headquarters in New York on Friday, according to a Foreign Ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.
Nyan Win said he was "extremely sorry" for the death, the official said.
Japan, Burma's largest aid donor, has so far ruled out immediate sanctions against Burma but Komura suggested tougher steps could be taken.
Burma's military government says 10 people have been killed since it began cracking down on demonstrators on Wednesday. Brown said the number could be much higher.
"I am afraid we believe the loss of life is far greater than is being reported so far," the British prime minister said in a televised statement.
Dissident groups have put the number as high as 200, although that number could not be verified.
Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont scrapped a prepared speech about Thai democracy at the UN General Assembly at the last minute Friday and instead delivered an uncharacteristic attack against Burma, his country's neighbor, according to Thailand's The Nation newspaper.
He said both countries, being Buddhist, share beliefs in nonviolence and tolerance.
"Thailand, therefore, finds as unacceptable the use of violence and bodily harm to Buddhist monks and other demonstrators in Yangon [Rangoon]," the newspaper quoted him as saying.
Japan, Burma's biggest aid contributor, lodged a protest over the death of a Japanese journalist, who was among at least nine people killed Thursday when soldiers fired automatic weapons into a crowd of unarmed demonstrators.
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said in a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown that China was "very much concerned about the current situation" in Myanmar, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"China hopes all parties in Myanmar [Burma] exercise restraint and use peaceful means to restore its stability as soon as possible," Wen said. He added the international community should offer constructive help to resolve the situation.
The White House accused Burmese military government of attempting to hide the violence, and urged "all civilized nations" to pressure the junta to stop it.
"They don't want the world to see what is going on there," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Friday.
Laura Bush, the wife of US President George W Bush, and an advocate in recent weeks for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, a prisoner of the junta, made a personal appeal for support for Burmese citizens. She said the acts of violence there "shame the military regime."
Bush and Brown talked about the situation via a video teleconference on Friday and agreed on the importance of the visit to Burma by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
Stanzel said they agreed on "the need for countries around the world to continue to make their views clear to the junta."
Western diplomats were already complaining that Gambari would probably not be able to meet with senior opposition members or—apparently—the country's leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe. His schedule was being set by Burmese government.
Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura protested the death of video journalist Kenji Nagai, 50, calling it "extremely regrettable," in a meeting with his Burmese counterpart, Nyan Win, at UN headquarters in New York on Friday, according to a Foreign Ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.
Nyan Win said he was "extremely sorry" for the death, the official said.
Japan, Burma's largest aid donor, has so far ruled out immediate sanctions against Burma but Komura suggested tougher steps could be taken.
Burma's military government says 10 people have been killed since it began cracking down on demonstrators on Wednesday. Brown said the number could be much higher.
"I am afraid we believe the loss of life is far greater than is being reported so far," the British prime minister said in a televised statement.
Dissident groups have put the number as high as 200, although that number could not be verified.
Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont scrapped a prepared speech about Thai democracy at the UN General Assembly at the last minute Friday and instead delivered an uncharacteristic attack against Burma, his country's neighbor, according to Thailand's The Nation newspaper.
He said both countries, being Buddhist, share beliefs in nonviolence and tolerance.
"Thailand, therefore, finds as unacceptable the use of violence and bodily harm to Buddhist monks and other demonstrators in Yangon [Rangoon]," the newspaper quoted him as saying.
