Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende used his speech to the general meeting of the UN on Thursday to call for sanctions against Burma, where at least nine protestors have been shot dead.

‘In Burma, the military are shooting at monks and civilians, who are demonstrating peacefully. We strongly condemn this brutal use of force, Balkenende said. ‘Together with the European Union and the United States, we call on the Security Council to discuss the situation urgently and to consider further steps including sanctions.’
Balkenende also called on the international community to do more to help rebuild Afghanistan, describing the job Dutch troops are doing there as ‘difficult and demanding’. ‘
‘The international community must not abandon Afghanistan to its fate. The hopes of millions of Afghans rest with us. The UN needs to broaden and intensify its role in Afghanistan,’ Balkenende said.
For the prime minister’s full speech, click here.