YANGON, Myanmar - The military junta on Tuesday rejected proposed three-party talks that would have included pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying it refuses to bow to "big power bullies."
It also seemed likely that U.N. diplomat Ibrahim Gambari would leave Myanmar Thursday without having met with the country's most powerful figure — junta chief Senior Gen. Than Shwe.
Seeking political reform and reconciliation between the ruling military and pro-democracy forces, Gambari had proposed a meeting among Suu Kyi, a regime representative and himself.
Mr. Gambari was able to meet separately with both Nobel Prize winner Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest, and Than Shwe.
But Kyaw Hsan told Gambari Tuesday that the envoy's earlier visit to Myanmar "did not bear fruit as we had expected," and was followed by sanctions from the United States, Australia and the European Union as well as condemnation from the U.N. Security Council.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern later Tuesday at the "lack of progress" in Gambari's latest mission.
Ban said he had instructed Gambari to get talks going between Suu Kyi and Myanmar's leadership, seek the release of all detained monks,students and other demonstrators, and press the government to "take necessary democratic measures."
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