Cambodia, ASEAN chair, warns over Myanmar violence; U.S. urges more pressure

Oct 26 (Reuters) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is gravely concerned about escalating violence in Myanmar, the bloc's chair Cambodia said ahead of a special meeting of its foreign ministers on the crisis. The top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, Daniel Kritenbrink called the situation in Myanmar "tragic" and said finding away to deal with it was a "key priority" for Thursday's meeting in Jakarta.

Kritenbrink told a Washington think tank the United States would make "a very forceful call" at next month's East Asia Summit, which Cambodia will host, for more pressure to be applied on the ruling military junta. "We are not going to sit idly by while this violence continues; we're not going to sit idly by while the junta prepares for what will be completely fake and sham elections that they talk about holding next year as well," he said.

He said the United States, which has imposed sanctions on the military leadership, would take "additional steps to put pressure on the regime," but did not elaborate. A statement from ASEAN chair Cambodia called for restraint, an immediate cessation of fighting, and for all parties to pursue dialogue. "We are deeply saddened by the growing casualties, and the immense suffering that ordinary people in Myanmar have endured," it said.

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