West appeals to Burma's partners

China is seen as Burma's most important remaining partner

Western anger at events in Burma is growing but China and India, which arguably have most influence locally, have held short of a blunt warning.

Beijing simply called on "all parties" to show "restraint" and vetoed further UN sanctions proposed by the US and EU at the Security Council.

India urged dialogue and "national reconciliation and political reform".

The EU and US have asked China, India and other Asian states to use their influence to help Burma's people.

The problem with sanctions is not that they are ineffective in themselves, but that they are not universally applied Unnamed European diplomat quoted by AFP

The White House warned Burma's military "should not stand in the way of its people's desire for freedom" and "must stop this violence... now".

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said the junta was a "thoroughly loathsome regime", guilty of "appalling repression".

EU pressure

On Thursday, EU deputies called on China and Russia to "support a clear UN Security Council declaration condemning the use of force".

The two permanent Security Council members contend that the situation in Burma is an internal affair which does not threaten international security.

They only agreed to a brief statement at a Security Council meeting on Wednesday expressing "concern vis-a-vis the situation" and "urging restraint".

As Burma's most important trade partner, China issued a carefully worded statement falling short of any overt warning to Burma's rulers.

"We hope all parties can exercise restraint and properly handle the situation there to ensure the situation does not escalate," its foreign ministry said.

Sanction gaps

The US and EU first imposed sanctions almost 20 years ago. The US said this week that it would add to these with a visa ban and financial restrictions on members of the government.

The European Commission said it was ready to "step up the pressure" by considering strengthening its sanctions against the regime.

The EU already has a ban on arms exports to Burma, a limited investment ban, and a visa ban for senior officials and their families, but campaigners say these measures are weak and ineffectual and fail to prevent, for example, France's Total oil company from doing business with the generals.

The US position, says BBC Asia correspondent Andrew Harding, is much tougher. Since 1997, all new investment in Burma has been banned.

But other countries are vying for financial influence in the country, our correspondent adds.

Chinese tourists and traders are buying up real estate, Thailand has signed hydro-electric deals, and Russia has agreed to build the generals a nuclear reactor.

"The problem with sanctions is not that they are ineffective in themselves but that they are not universally applied," a European diplomat is quoted as saying by the French news agency AFP.