UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari called for the release of all political prisoners in Myanmar, including democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. President George W. Bush had previously warned that the US would pursue international sanctions against Myanmar's military regime if they failed to release detainees. The monk hood in Myanmar led peaceful protests against fuel hikes and deteriorating economic conditions, which grew into tens of thousands demonstrating against the military rule, but the junta cracked down violently in late September, killing and imprisoning many. The mass protests demonstrated a widespread consensus for transferring power from the military to a civilian government.

1. Dec 18, 2007
WASHINGTON (AFP) —
UN envoy for Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari,
"These include the release of all political prisoners” said Laura Bush.
On Dec11, 2007 US President George W. Bush had warned that failure to
release democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and other detainees could trigger a
US-led effort to tighten international sanctions on Myanmar's military regime.
"The junta leaders continue to sell the country's natural resources to enrich
themselves.
Myanmar’s monk hood, which has a long history of political activism, took the
lead in organizing peaceful protests against drastic fuel hikes announced in mid-
August, as well as the country’s deteriorating economic conditions. The
demonstrations culminated in ten-of-thousands taking to the streets of Yangon in
increasingly aggressive protests against the military, which has ruled the country
for the past 45 years. The junta finally cracked down Sep 26-27 with batons and
bullets, killing at least 15 people and imprisoning more than 3,000. The actual
death toll and the number of people still in prison in Myanmar remains a
mystery.
The mass protests in Myanmar (formerly Burma) during August and September
have shown that there is a wide consensus for a transfer of power from the
military regime to a civilian government.