A top UN envoy arrived in Thailand today to renew efforts to negotiate political reconciliation in neighbouring Burma where the ruling junta crushed peaceful pro-democracy protests and continues to detain dissidents.

MYANMAR’S military government quashed a new protest yesterday by pro-democracy supporters in downtown Yangon, as activists said the protests spread to other parts of the country.

Burma’s junta said it had arrested five former student dissidents over the past week to prevent unrest during a crackdown on pro-democracy activists it was reported today.