The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday urged Myanmar's junta to release the country's former leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the first resolution adopted over the situation in the Southeast Asian country since a coup occurred there in February last year.
The resolution expressed "deep concern at the ongoing state of emergency imposed by the military in Myanmar." It was adopted with the backing of 12 of the 15 members, with Russia, China and India abstaining from the vote.
The resolution also demanded "an immediate end to all forms of violence" throughout the Southeast Asian country.
It called on the junta "to immediately release all arbitrarily detained prisoners," including Suu Kyi, who served as state counsellor and foreign minister.
The 77-year-old Nobel Peace laureate has been sentenced to a total of 26 years behind bars following convictions for corruption and other charges. She is imprisoned in Naypyitaw.
Kyaw Moe Tun, who was appointed Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations before the coup and remains the recognized representative despite the junta's attempt fire him, welcomed the council's adoption of the resolution.
Speaking to reporters after the vote, he also called on the Security Council to take "stronger action to ensure the swift end of the military junta and its crimes."
Britain led the work of drafting the resolution. Barbara Woodward, the country's ambassador to the world body, said in a statement, "We stand with the people of Myanmar. It is time for the junta to return the country to them."
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