Journalist John Pilger on the situation in Burma

Mrs Albright said they had urged Mr Annan to persuade Burma's military leaders to open talks with the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Aung San Suu Kyi.

The call came as hundreds of heavily-armed police were deployed throughout Rangoon, some of them around the home of Ms Suu Kyi.

The opposition leaderi was involved in a six-day standoff with authorities outside Rangoon, after she was stopped from visiting her supporters.

The US State Department spokesman, James Rubin, called on Burma's military leaders to open a dialogue with the NLD.

US State Department spokesman, James Rubin: "Callous disregard for fundamental rights"

Ms Suu Kyi herself has said she will continue to leave her home for meetings with supporters, in defiance of the military government.

After being stopped at the roadblock, she refused to move for six days until taken home by soldiers.

NLD officials said the opposition leader had accused the military authorities of "forcibly abducting her, hijacking her car and using physical force".

Patrick Walker reports from Bangkok

An opposition spokesman said Ms Suu Kyi was exhausted, but intended to leave again as soon as she was well.

The Burmese military government said her action was a publicity stunt, but also said it had ended the protest for reasons of Ms Suu Kyi's own health.

UK urges dialogue

The UK Government has summoned the Burmese ambassador to London to condemn what it calls the regime's interference in Ms Suu Kyi's freedom of movement, and urged immediate dialogue between the military and the opposition.

A protester outside the Burmese embassy in Thailand honours Ms Suu Kyi

The Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said: "I want to make clear that the Burmese regime's interference in Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom of movement and association is unacceptable.

"It is high time the regime recognised the need to open an immediate dialogue with the NLD."

The Foreign office minister Derek Fatchett warned that the situation in Burma could deteriorate in the coming weeks.

"We will certainly not move away from our support for the democratic forces and for the democrats within Burma," Mr Fatchett said.

Barred from diplomatic contact

Despite international concern about Ms Suu Kyi's health, the Burmese authorities has rejected requests from foreign diplomats to visit her.

Madeleine Albright: Protest was a human rights violation

The Burmese Foreign Minister, Onh Gyaw, said he did not feel that a meeting was needed at the moment.

Although the Burmese military authorities say there is no formal restriction on Ms Suu Kyi, this week's incident at the roadblock was the third time she had been stopped while trying to visit party workers outside Rangoon.

Tension has risen between the military and the NLD since Ms Suu Kyi called for a meeting of a parliament in August consisting of candidates elected in the May 1990 elections.