US mulls UN Council action over Myanmar

US may introduce a resolution in security Council to step up international pressure on Myanmar for alleged human rights abuses.

The United States will consider introducing a resolution in the UN Security Council to step up international pressure on military ruled Myanmar for alleged human rights abuses, a senior State Department official has said.

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"We would look at that option very, very carefully and we would look at all UN options, all UN options," Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told a Congressional hearing on Tuesday after legislators pressed for such a resolution.

Washington put the international spotlight on Myanmar in December when it successfully pushed the Security Council, despite initial objections from China and Russia, to hold a briefing on human rights and other problems in the Southeast Asian state for the first time.

Not satisfied with this, US legislators pressed Washington, current president of the UN Security Council, to put Myanmar formally on the agenda of the powerful UN panel, a move that could lead to resolutions of condemnation and raise pressure on the military rulers.

Hill agreed that the Myanmar situation warranted continued UN Security Council attention "and we are considering next steps in that body."

On the prospect of a Security Council resolution, Hill said: "It is our very strong belief that this is an issue that does require a broad number of players and the Security Council is an appropriate place to be informed and to look very closely what the next step is."

Myanmar's military junta has been accused of operating a strict police state and restricting basic rights and freedom.