The White House on Thursday demanded that Myanmar's military rulers end an “outrageous” and deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters and called for more global pressure against the military junta. “The Burmese government should not stand in the way of its people's desire for freedom. They must stop this violence against peaceful protesters now,” said national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe. The United States calls Myanmar by its previous name, Burma. “I think it's clear that the president wants increased international pressure on Burma,” White House spokesman Tony Fratto said, pointing to Bush's warnings to the junta in his speech this week to the U.N. General Assembly. “I also expect the Treasury Department soon to move on their role in imposing some sanctions with respect to Burma,” Fratto said, referring to travel restrictions and financial sanctions that Bush announced in New York City on Tuesday. “We must see continued stepped-up international pressure on Burma,” said Fratto, who called the crackdown on anti-government protests there “an outrageous situation.” “The world is watching. We also need the world acting, and that's why we're going to continue to work with our partners in the international community and the other countries on the U.N. Security Council to continue work to step up pressure on Burma until they change their practices,” Fratto told reporters.
