UN Security Council Calls for ASEAN Myanmar Plan to be Enacted

UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Security Council called Friday for an immediate end to violence in Myanmar as stated in an ASEAN plan, giving unanimous approval to a statement watered down to satisfy China and Russia.

The plan, which also calls for the naming of an envoy from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to address the crisis triggered by the Feb. 1 military coup, should be applied "without delay," the council statement says. It was approved after a closed-door meeting of the council and forced Western countries to make concessions to China -- Myanmar's main backer -- and Russia to win passage. At their request the council eliminated clauses that said it "once again strongly condemned violence against peaceful protestors" and "reiterated their call on the military to exercise utmost restraint."