Burma's main opposition party says in order for negotiations to be successful, the military government must drop preconditions for talks with detained Nobel laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The National League for Democracy was responding Tuesday to Senior General Than Shwe's recent offer to open talks with Aung San Suu Kyi, on the condition she end her support for international sanctions on Burma.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefed U.S. First Lady Laura Bush by phone about Burma as the U.N. Security Council considers a response to the military government's recent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.
China's foreign ministry reiterated its opposition to sanctions against Burma. China is a permanent member of the Security Council and has blocked action against Burma in the past.
In a separate development today, the British Broadcasting Corporation says a Burmese diplomat in London has resigned because of the government's treatment of Buddhist monks during the protests.
Ye Min Tun told the BBC that Burma's generals had ignored the people's desire for negotiations with opposition activists.
Also, an international media rights group, Reporters Without Borders says Internet service came back on in Burma for the first time in two weeks today, before cutting out again.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.