All quiet in Myanmar as UN envoy flies into maelstrom

Troops regain control of streets; Internet access restored briefly

UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Myanmar on Saturday, bringing demands for restraint from a world that has watched with alarm the violent suppression of peaceful nationwide protests.

On Saturday, the streets of Myanmar’s two biggest cities were eerily quiet after a brutal crackdown on demonstrators seeking to end 45 years of military rule. Soldiers quickly snuffed out one small demonstration in Yangon, dragging several men to waiting trucks.

Troops were stationed on nearly each corner of Yangon and Mandalay.

Gambari arrived at the Yangon airport and was being briefed by UN officials. He was expected to head immediately to Naypyitaw, where the country’s military leaders are based. Western diplomats said Gambari’s schedule was set by the government and likely would not include meetings with pro-democracy figures, such as Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu, who is under house arrest.

Meanwhile, Internet access was restored briefly on Saturday a day after a Web blackout believed to have been imposed to stop reports and pictures of a major crackdown reaching the outside world. State media say nine people have been killed, although world leaders, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown say the figure is likely to be far higher.