By MUNEEZA NAQVI,

AP

Posted: 2007-10-23 06:23:36

NEW DELHI (AP) – A U.N. envoy visiting India to urge the government to break its silence over the violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Myanmar  said Tuesday he was satisfied with the outcome of his meetings.

Ibrahim Gambari is on a six-nation tour of Asian nations to ask them to take the lead in resolving the crisis. The special focus of his meetings has been on India and China.

Gambari met with India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon during his two-day visit.

“I am very satisfied with the response I have received,” Gambari told reporters. He also said he was happy with India’s “commitment to support the good offices role of the U.N. secretary general.”

Gambari would not give any other details. He said India would make a statement about his visit later in the day.

Last week, U.S. President George W. Bush  announced new measures targeting the assets of Myanmar’s leaders. He also tightened controls on U.S. exports to the country, also known as Burma. Bush also asked China and India to do more to pressure the military junta that has ruled the Southeast Asian nation since 1962.

Gambari on Tuesday said that Chinese officials had helped him get access to Myanmar’s generals earlier this month but said that he would like to see them do more.

India has been tightlipped about the situation doing little more than issuing a short press note expressing concern.

Even as protests gathered steam last month, Indian petroleum minister, Murali Deora, was in Myanmar signing a US$150 million (euro106 million) gas exploration deal.

India has also been keen to secure the cooperation of the Myanmar military to help contain several separatist groups fighting New Delhi’s rule in India’s northeast, a region that borders Myanmar. Several of the groups have set up bases over the border used to launch attacks against India.

Gambari leaves for Beijing later Tuesday.