US says would push sanctions if Myanmar does not act

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 5 (Reuters) The United States said today it would propose a UN Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on Myanmar if the government there does not ''respond constructively'' to international concern about repression of pro-democracy protests.

''If the Burmese government does not take appropriate steps ...

the United States is prepared to introduce a resolution in the Security Council imposing sanctions,'' US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told the Security Council.

''We must all be prepared to consider measures such as arms embargoes,'' Khalilzad said, urging Myanmar's neighbors to exert the maximum pressure in the meantime to get the military government there to cooperate with UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari's efforts to promote dialogue.

REUTERS PDT RAI2317