Oct. 4 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. First Lady Laura Bush condemned the Myanmar regime's violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters and called on the military junta to relinquish power.

``The U.S. believes it is time for General Than Shwe and the junta to step aside and to make way for a unified Burma governed by legitimate leaders,'' she said in a statement to the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations yesterday, referring to the Southeast Asian nation by its former name.

The United Nations Security Council must pass a resolution calling for the release of political prisoners and for a ``peaceful transition to democracy,'' the first lady said in a statement read by Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer of California.

It is the second statement issued by the first lady since the junta deployed soldiers on the streets of the former capital, Yangon, on Sept. 26 to crush the biggest anti-government protests in almost 20 years. Security forces clubbed and shot at demonstrators, raided monasteries and arrested Buddhist monks who led the protests. At least 30 people were killed and 1,400 others arrested, according to the Australian government.

More people were detained in night-time raids and soldiers patrolled the streets of Yangon warning people to stay inside, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported on its Web site.

Envoy Briefing

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will be briefed today by his envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, who held talks earlier this week with junta leaders in the capital, Naypyidaw.

``The concerns of the international community have been clearly and loudly conveyed to the authorities,'' Ban told reporters in New York yesterday, adding Gambari will brief the Security Council tomorrow.

The UN has demanded the junta reveal the death toll from the protests and give details about those jailed and missing. It has also appealed to the military government to secure the release of a local woman working for the UN who was arrested early yesterday in Yangon.

Myint Ngwe Mon, who works for the UN Development Program in Myanmar, was picked up at her apartment at about 4 a.m. local time. Her husband, brother-in-law and driver were also detained, the UN said.

In Brussels, European Union governments yesterday agreed to stiffen sanctions on Myanmar, which already include an arms embargo, suspension of trade privileges, an asset freeze and a visa ban on top officials, as well as a prohibition on European financing for Myanmar state-owned companies.

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, which, according to the UN, are widespread and systematic.

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: Ed Johnson in Sydney at ejohnson28@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 3, 2007 23:06 EDT