US says troubled by reports of deaths in Myanmar protests

NEW YORK, Sep 26 (Reuters) The United States said today it was ''very troubled'' about the actions of Myanmar's military government if reports of people killed in anti-junta protests were true.

The Bush administration was responding to word from hospital and monastery sources that two monks and a civilian had been killed, as Myanmar security forces tried to quell the biggest anti-junta protests in 20 years.

''If these stories are accurate, the US is very troubled that the regime would treat the Burmese people this way,'' White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. ''We call on the junta to proceed in a peaceful transition to democracy.'' REUTERS JK AS1939