Oct. 2 (Bloomberg) -- China and Russia were among the 47 members of the United Nations Human Rights Council to unanimously adopt a resolution that ``strongly deplores'' the Myanmar government's crackdown on the country's biggest pro- democracy protests in almost 20 years.

The resolution, adopted today in Geneva at a special session of the council, criticized the ``continued violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in Myanmar, including through beatings, killings and arbitrary detentions.''

The measure, one of the toughest issued by the year-old body, also urged Myanmar's military leaders to stop attacks on peaceful protesters, release political prisoners including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and take steps toward democratic government.

``The Myanmar authorities should no longer expect that their self-imposed isolation will shield them from accountability,'' Louise Arbour, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said after the vote, according to a text of her address. ``The government must give a full account of its actions during and after the protests.''

The Human Rights Council action followed UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari's meeting today in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, with the nation's military leader, General Than Shwe. Their talks lasted more than an hour and other unidentified ``members of the senior leadership'' were present, a statement from the UN said. The statement gave no details about their discussion.

Suu Kyi Meeting

Gambari also met today for a second time with Suu Kyi in Yangon, the former capital, before flying to Singapore, the UN said. He previously met with Suu Kyi for an hour two days ago in Yangon.

A Nobel Peace Prize winner, Suu Kyi, 62, has spent almost 12 years in detention since the junta rejected the results of parliamentary elections in 1990 won by her National League for Democracy.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had asked Gambari to urge the junta to show restraint in dealing with demonstrators and to free political prisoners. Gambari plans to report later this week to Ban and the UN Security Council on the outcome of his mission.

International condemnation of the regime has increased since soldiers clubbed and shot protesters, raided monasteries and arrested Buddhist monks who led the demonstrations. At least 30 people were killed last week by security forces and 1,400 others were arrested, the Australian government said today.

Other Nations

China and Russia earlier this week blocked a U.S. bid to have the UN Security Council condemn the Myanmar government, saying that the panel didn't have jurisdiction over the situation. Other nations on the Human Rights Council supporting today's resolution were Britain, Cuba, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

Before today, the only government that had come under such criticism from the rights body was Israel. The U.S. has questioned the panel's legitimacy because of its failure to confront documented abuses in such places as Sudan.

EU parliamentarian Glyn Ford said today that a proposed free trade agreement, or FTA, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Myanmar, isn't possible if the nation is included.

``It was almost impossible before the recent events; I think it's completely impossible now for the FTA to include Burma,'' Ford said in Singapore, where he is on a fact-finding mission for the deal.

`Toward Democracy'

The regime, which adopted the name Myanmar instead of Burma in 1989, yesterday blamed western ``neo-colonialists'' for stoking the unrest.

Government troops last week ``exercised utmost restraint'' to subdue protesters who were ``abetted by some powerful countries,'' Foreign Minister Nyan Win said in a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York.

Democracy ``cannot be imposed from outside,'' he said. ``We are determined to proceed resolutely toward democracy along our chosen path.''

The U.S. government banned visas for the nation's military leaders and froze their financial assets. The European Union is considering tightening sanctions on the regime, and China, Myanmar's closest ally, has called on the junta to seek a peaceful resolution to the unrest.

The military has ruled the nation of 47 million people since 1962. The regime has a record of human rights violations, including summary executions, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers. The abuses are widespread and systematic, according to the UN.

Anti-junta protests began more than a month ago when the government doubled some fuel prices and intensified when Buddhist monks took to the streets.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bill Varner at the United Nations at wvarner@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 2, 2007 16:14 EDT