United Nations: The US and several other key members of the UN Security Council have urged India, China and ASEAN nations to use their influence on the neighbouring Myanmar to start an all-inclusive reconciliation process which could lead to a democratic set up replacing the 45-year old military regime.

But the 15-member Council itself was deadlocked when it met on Friday, with the US and Britain pressing for sending a strong message to back the efforts of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and China asserting that the pro-democracy protests and strong government action to deal with them were an internal matter of Myanmar.

China clashed with the US and Britain when it rejected the suggestion that the Council consider imposing sanction to back up the efforts being made by the Secretary General and his envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

The situation in Myanmar posed no threat to the international peace and security, Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya told the US and Britain during a debate that followed a briefing by Gambari who has just returned after meeting head of military junta General Than Shwe and detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Pressure, Wang warned, would not help resolve the problem and might lead to mistrust and confrontation.

The debate in the Council was held in the backdrop of Than offering talks with Suu Kyi with several conditions attached which her party has virtually rejected.

Talking to reporters, Gambari said Suu Kyi is interested in a dialogue and stressed that both sides have strong misgivings about each other.