The United States, meanwhile, pressed for concrete results from his mission.

The UN envoy, who arrived on Saturday, also held talks yesterday with representatives of the Red Cross.

Details of his talks with the Red Cross and ethnic minority representatives in the isolated capital, Naypyidaw, were not immediately available.

Meanwhile, security was eased outside detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's home in Yangon ahead of a possible meeting between her and Professor Gambari, said diplomats.

This is the UN envoy's second visit since the military regime's bloody crackdown on mass pro-democracy protests in September, in which 13 people were killed. Thousands were also locked up.

He is scheduled to meet Ms Suu Kyi tomorrow, but it is unclear if he will be able to see junta leader Than Shwe.

'So far, there are no plans to meet the senior general yet,' said a Myanmar official.

Prof Gambari yesterday met Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win for the second time in two days, said a statement issued by the UN office in Myanmar.

The statement said they discussed future cooperation between the government and UN agencies in Myanmar, as well as the agenda for the rest of Prof Gambari's visit, scheduled to end on Thursday.

He was originally due to meet Myanmar's Information Minister Kyaw Hsan yesterday, but the meeting was put back by a day, an official said.

On Sunday, the UN envoy met Foreign Minister Nyan Win and Labour Minister Aung Kyi, who was appointed by the junta as liaison official to deal with Ms Suu Kyi.

Meanwhile, US Assistant Secretary of State Kristen Silverberg yesterday said Washington wanted something positive to emerge from the visit.

'We'll evaluate Mr Gambari's mission based on whether it produces concrete results. In particular, we're looking for direct dialogue between the government and the democracy activists and the ethnic minority groups,' she told reporters in Bangkok. 'We're also looking for progress on political prisoners.'

In a separate development, senior Thai military officials yesterday said Myanmar's army chief, General Maung Aye, would not be joining a gathering of army commanders from Asean in Thailand from Nov 19 to 22.

Meanwhile, a businessman targeted by US sanctions yesterday blasted Washington's move, saying they were 'reckless' and would only hurt the Myanmar people.

Admitting that his Air Bagan was facing problems, Mr Tay Za insisted the company was a legitimate one and denied that he was related to members of the junta.

Air Bagan earlier said it would suspend from last Sunday its Singapore service, which was launched only in September.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS

WHAT U.S. WANTS

'In particular, we're looking for direct dialogue between the government and the democracy activists and the ethnic minority groups. We're also looking for progress on political prisoners.'
U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE KRISTEN SILVERBERG, citing some of the 'concrete results' that are expected from Prof Gambari's mission