UN envoy to discuss Burma plans

Mr Gambari has urged wider consultation

The UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari has arrived in Burma for his third visit since September's suppressed mass anti-government protests.

He arrives a month after the junta's surprise announcement of plans to hold a referendum on a new constitution in May and democratic elections by 2010.

The proposals have been condemned as a sham by opposition groups.

Mr Gambari is expected to press the government to make the constitutional drafting process more inclusive.

Mr Gambari was due to meet foreign diplomats later on Thursday.

On previous visits, he has held talks with senior government officials and has also been allowed to meet the main opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

But it remains unclear whether he will meet Senior General Than Shwe, Burma's reclusive leader, who refused a meeting during Mr Gambari's last visit.

'Politely ignored'

The generals will no doubt present their new plans to Mr Gambari as evidence they are moving towards a restoration of democratic rule, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.

But opposition groups have said the proposals will in practice leave the military in power.

Under the proposed constitution, 25% of the seats in the new parliament are reserved for armed forces personnel.

Ms Suu Kyi remains under house arrest in Rangoon

The head of state must have military experience - and the charter specifically bars Ms Suu Kyi from holding office, because she was married to a foreigner.

Merely criticising either the constitution or the referendum is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in jail.

Mr Gambari has already urged the government to consult more widely, and to release Ms Suu Kyi, to make the process more credible.

He says he will repeat those demands during this visit, but there is now little time left to persuade the junta to change course.

And with the international community still divided over how to respond to the intransigence of the generals, his pleas are once again likely to be given a polite hearing, and then ignored, our correspondent says.