Brussels/New York - The United States and the European Union on Wednesday strongly condemned Myanmar's regime for using violence to quell a peaceful protest by Buddhist monks and called on the UN Security Council to consider further steps "including sanctions.""We are deeply troubled by reports that security forces have fired on and attacked peaceful demonstrators and arrested many Buddhist monks and others. We condemn all violence against peaceful demonstrators and remind the country's leaders of their personal responsibility for their actions," the EU and the US said in a joint statement issued by Portugal, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, and made available in Brussels.
Officials from the two most influential Western powers called on the Myanmar authorities to "stop the violence and to open a process of dialogue with pro-democracy leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi and representatives of ethnic minorities."
They also urged China, India, ASEAN and others in the region to "use their influence in support of the people of Burma/Myanmar."
"We urge the country's authorities to receive an early visit by the UN Secretary General's envoy Ibrahim Gambari. We call on the Security Council to discuss this situation urgently and consider further steps including sanctions," the statement said.
Earlier Wednesday, Myanmar troops used batons, tear gas and bullets to keep tens of thousands of marching monks and lay protestors out of Yangon's holiest shrines in a confrontation between rifles and rust-coloured robes that claimed at least five lives.
