The UN Security Council has again demanded the restoration of democracy in Myanmar and the release of all detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

The body also strongly supported calls by Southeast Asian countries for an immediate end to the violence and the opening of talks as a first step towards a solution following the February 1 military coup. .

The council’s press release follows a briefing in which the senior UN envoy to Myanmar said demand for democracy by the country’s people – who have protested since the coup – had created “Unexpected difficulties” for the military leaders in consolidating power, and risked bringing the administration of the nation to a standstill.

Christine Schraner Burgener said in remarks to the closed-door council meeting obtained by The Associated Press that her talks in the region “aggravated” her fears that the situation in Myanmar would deteriorate across the board.

She pointed to a resurgence of fighting in ethnic areas, with more and more poor people losing their jobs, officials refusing to work in protest against the coup and a crisis brewing in and around the main city of Yangon ” pushed to the limit ”for food, going into debt and trying to survive.

The members of the Security Council “reiterated their deep concern at the situation in Myanmar following the declaration of a state of emergency imposed by the army on 1 February and reiterated their support for Myanmar’s democratic transition”.

The council also reiterated its previous statements, including strongly condemning the use of violence against peaceful protesters and the deaths of hundreds of civilians, calling for the restoration of democracy and the release of detainees.

Council members also called on the military “to show the utmost restraint” and “on all sides to refrain from all violence”, and underlined “the need to fully respect human rights and continue dialogue and reconciliation “.

Ms. Schraner Burgener spoke by video from Bangkok, where she returned after traveling to Jakarta to meet with participants at the April 24 ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN ), which has 10 members, which includes Myanmar, and was attended by the junta military commander, Chief General Min Aung Hlaing.

The UN envoy said she had met with the ASEAN sidelines commander-in-chief and that they had agreed to “keep the details of the exchange under wraps to allow frank and open discussions to continue.” , but she assured the council that she “had amplified” the statements her 15 members had approved.

Based on her meeting with General Hlaing, Ms Schraner Burgener told council that on Thursday she again requested to visit Myanmar. His previous demands were turned down by the military, who said the time was not right.

“Over the past three years, I have built constructive relationships and trust with key players in Myanmar, which would allow me to directly initiate substantive discussions on how the current impasse could be resolved if the ‘access to the country was allowed,’ she said. “My presence could also help calm tensions. “

The Security Council expressed the hope that Ms. Schraner Burgener would visit Myanmar “as soon as possible”.