Top UN council hesitant on Myanmar condemnation
UN: A divided UN Security Council on Wednesday scrapped a meeting
that western diplomats hoped would sharply criticize Myanmar for the
extended detention of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
Envoys sought China's support for a Security Council resolution
condemning the Beijing ally, and calling for the release of Suu Kyi, who
on Tuesday was ordered to serve another 18 month under house arrest.
Diplomats canceled a meeting of the 15-member Security Council, planned
for Wednesday afternoon, as they pressed China and others through
bilateral talks.
On Tuesday, the 15 ambassadors paused closed-door consultations
without agreement on the US-drafted statement, which also demanded the
release of all political prisoners.
Several countries, including Vietnam and veto-wielding China and
Russia, insisted on getting instructions from their capitals before
moving acting further on the text. Trade between the two countries grew
26.4 percent to 2.6 billion dollars in 2008.United Nations, Thursday,
AFP |
