Bush, Brown discuss pressure campaign on Myanmar

WASHINGTON, Sep 28 (Reuters) US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown today discussed the need to keep up international pressure on Myanmar's rulers, and the White House condemned the crackdown there as ''barbaric.'' Bush and Brown spoke by video link about ''the need for countries around the world to continue to make their views clear to the junta that they need to refrain from violence and move to a peaceful transition to democracy,'' White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.

In Myanmar, crowds taunted soldiers and police who barricaded central Yangon to prevent more mass protests against 45 years of military rule and deepening economic hardship. State-run television said nine people were killed yesterday.

''The crackdown on peaceful protesters there is quite barbaric,'' Stanzel told reporters.

Bush announced tightened sanctions against Myanmar's military leaders in a UN General Assembly speech on Tuesday.

Asked whether Bush and Brown discussed the possibility of encouraging Myanmar's people to overthrow their government if protests grew into a fullscale uprising, Stanzel said: ''That would be a hypothetical.'' ''We certainly support the people who are marching for democracy and peace,'' he added.

Reuters AE DB2131