UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari met with Burma's detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi Sunday after holding talks with military rulers.
Gambarini, however, failed to meet with the junta's two top leaders. He had hoped to speak with Senior Gen. Than Shwe, or his deputy, Gen. Maung Aye,.
Gambari is attempting to mediate a peaceful solution to the government's crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.
On Sunday, thousands of troops locked down Burma's largest cities as scores of people were arrested overnight.
With an estimated 15,000 soldiers in all directions, no monks are on the streets as they have all been arrested, killed or locked inside their monasteries.
Like many of its downtown shops, the cities' pagodas have been closed or sealed. Only a few dare to gather and taunt the soldiers.
The military lockdown is in response to demonstrations that began last month in Burma, also known as Myanmar, after fuel prices spiked.
They grew in size and intensity over the last week as protesters were emboldened by the participation of country's revered Buddhist monks in the demonstrations.
The protests dwindled and all but halted last Thursday, after the military opened fire on demonstrators.
At least 10 people were killed, including a Japanese journalist, but Western leaders fear there may have been many more deaths than those officially reported by the Burmese government.
In other countries, including India and Canada, Burmese refugees and their supporters continue their own marches for democracy. In South Korea, they waved the old Burmese flag and burned the new one created by generals when they renamed the country Myanmar.
Burmese activists are heartened by the demonstrations, believing there's more global support for their cause than ever before.
Gambari met first with Burmese military rulers Saturday in the remote capital of Naypyitaw.
On Sunday, he returned to Yangon and met with Suu Kyi at the State Guest House. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy easily won the country's 1990 elections, but the victory was annulled by the junta.
Suu Kyi was unexpectedly allowed to leave house arrest Sunday for the meeting, which lasted about 90 minutes.
She has spent 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest.
Gambari, who flew back to Naypyitaw Sunday, said in a statement today that he still expects to meet with Senior General Than Shwe before he leaves the country.
"He looks forward to meeting Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, before the conclusion of his mission," said the statement.
The UN has repeatedly failed to negotiate a solution between the military government and the pro-democracy opposition.
"He (Gambari) is a man of some influence in the region, he's trusted by both sides," CTV's South Asia Bureau Chief Paul Workman reported Sunday from Bangkok, Thailand.
"But his agenda is being set by the generals. He is here with their blessing and they're telling him who he can see and where he can go."
Refugees and activists in Thailand are now watching for any sign of dissent within the Burmese army.
They believe this time the generals may have gone too far in arresting thousands of monks, who have reportedly been attacked, abused and humiliated.
With files from The Associated Press and report by CTV's Paul Workman.
