Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern today expressed his "grave concern" for protesters in Burma as the military junta ramps up its crackdown on growing unrest.
At least one person has been killed as troops fired on monks and supporters in Rangoon today.
"The use of physical force by the military against monks, nuns and unarmed civilians, who have committed their lives to the path of non-violence, and who are simply exercising the basic right of freedom of expression in a peaceful manner, is unacceptable and deeply shocking," he said.
"All people of conscience throughout the world and all countries, in particular China and India, who have influence with the Burmese military regime, must condemn the use of force against unarmed civilians, demonstrating peacefully and demand the utmost restraint."
The minister said the scale of the demonstrations was unprecedented and showed that the Burmese people wanted "rapid, peaceful, political change and genuine, inclusive, national dialogue and reconciliation."
He said he supported calls by British prime minister Gordon Blair today for a United Nations Security Council meeting on Burma and for a UN envoy to be sent to the country.
"There will be no impunity in future for those who trample the human rights of the people of Burma," Mr Brown said at the Labour Party annual conference.
"The whole world is now watching Burma and its illegitimate and repressive regime should know that the whole world is going to hold it to account."
