President Bush is expected to announce new sanctions against Burma's military government, for its repression of the pro-democracy opposition.

While applauding the latest round of EU sanctions to be imposed on Burma's military government, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he would be willing to offer economic aid if the ruling elite embraces democratic reform.

The United Nations envoy to Burma says he is talking with Burmese officials about his return to the military-ruled country. Speaking with reporters in Malaysia Wednesday, Ibrahim Gambari said he has already confirmed a trip to Burma around mid-November, but said he would like to visit at an earlier date.

South-east Asian countries will never suspend Burma from their 10-nation bloc despite its bloody crackdown on mass protests, Malaysia's foreign minister said after talks with a UN envoy.

United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari has strongly criticised the military government in Burma over the weekend arrests of several key leaders of the recent pro-democracy protests.

The United Nations says Burma's opium poppy cultivation has increased at an alarming rate this year. As Chad Bouchard reports from Bangkok, experts are concerned that weakened security in border areas may undermine successful eradication campaigns over the past few years in an area known as the Golden Triangle.

The United Nations Security Council has released its first formal statement on Burma, criticizing the military government's violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.

Monks fleeing the military crackdown in Burma say they are regrouping in preparation for more peaceful demonstrations. Many of those monks are going across the border to Thailand where they are gathering support and resources to continue their struggle.

Travel industry analysts say that along with economic sanctions and diplomatic condemnation, the political unrest in Burma has brought an end to what might have been a record year for tourism spending. Travelers in Southeast Asia have taken Burma off their itineraries following the recent events there.

On September 27, Asean foreign ministers issued a strong statement on the crackdown in Burma. Thai prime minister called the crackdown in Burma unacceptable, following a similar line to Asean's. "Amid international pressure,Thailand will monitor the situation and will discuss within Asean what kind of action should be taken," he said.

The U.N. Security Council is debating whether to condemn and punish Burma's government for its violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations. But Burma's Southeast Asian neighbors are pushing the Burmese leadership to open an unconditional talks with opposition leaders.

Main Burmese Opposition Party, the National League for Democracy, has rejected any conditions for talks between its detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the military government.