Burma in diplomatic offensive

The deputy foreign minister of Burma, Khin Maung Win, has made a lightning visit to neighbouring Thailand for secret talks with both his counterpart, Surakiart Sathirathai, and the country's Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

A BBC correspondent in Bangkok says the visit was the foreign minister's first stop in a major diplomatic swing through the region, aimed at rallying support for the Burmese military government.

There's been an international outcry in the past month since the Burmese authorities detained the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and put her in solitary confinement.

Europe and the United States are considering increasing economic sanctions if she's not released - and South East Asian countries have also begun to express their frustration with Burma's leaders.

Foreign ministers of the Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) regional grouping criticised Burma severely at their conference in Phnom Penh two weeks ago.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service