AP

Posted: 2007-11-07 10:00:37

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – A U.N. special envoy will meet Myanmar’s detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday, the last day of his frustrating mission to try to ease the country’s political crisis, diplomats said.

But hopes for a breakthrough by the envoy Ibrahim Gambari dimmed Wednesday after the military government rejected proposed talks with Suu Kyi.

Gambari has also failed to meet the country’s most powerful figure, junta chief Senior Gen. Than Shwe.

The six-day visit is Gambari’s second to Myanmar, also called Burma, since the military killed at least 10 protesters in late September and arrested thousands of people. Diplomats and dissidents put the death toll much higher.

He was sent to Myanmar to promote political reconciliation after the U.N. Security Council condemned the crackdown. He met with both Suu Kyi and Than Shwe on his previous visit.

Gambari told foreign diplomats in Myanmar’s remote capital Naypyitaw that he would meet Suu Kyi in the country’s commercial center, Yangon, according to an Asian diplomat who attended the U.N. envoy’s one-hour briefing. The diplomat and his colleagues insisted on anonymity so as not to breach etiquette.

Gambari did not mention any plans to meet with Than Shwe, the diplomat said.

The U.N. envoy told the diplomats he met Wednesday with recently appointed Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein and a leading junta member, Secretary-One Lt. Gen. Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo – the most senior officials to see him so far. But did not disclose details of the meeting.

Gambari is scheduled to meet senior members of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party on Wednesday, a party spokesman said.

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