By MARI YAMAGUCHI,

Associated Press

Posted: 2007-10-26 00:01:08

TOKYO (AP) – A U.N. envoy launched talks with top Japanese officials Friday as part of a six-nation tour aimed at drumming up international pressure on Myanmar  to end its crackdown on pro-democracy activists.

Ibrahim Gambari, who arrived from China on Thursday, met with Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka and was set to meet Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda  and Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, government officials said.

Komura was expected to assure Gambari of Japan’s full support amid an international push for democratic and human rights reforms in Myanmar, a ministry official said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

The United Nations is seeking an end to the political deadlock between democracy advocates and the military, which has ruled Myanmar since 1962. Gambari, wrapping up a tour to discuss the issue, has also visited China, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and India.

Myanmar’s junta has said 10 people were killed during massive pro-democracy protests last month, but dissident groups put the death toll at up to 200 and say thousands of others, including Buddhist monks, were detained.

Japan, a major aid donor to Myanmar, has canceled a multimillion-dollar (euro) grant for a business education project following Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai’s death in Myanmar’s biggest city, Yangon, while he was covering the September crackdown. However, Tokyo has long faced criticism for being lenient toward the ruling military junta.