Gordon Brown has warned the Burmese regime that "the whole world is now watching" its actions.

As pro-democracy demonstrations led by monks continued in the country for a ninth day, despite being met by a violent response, the prime minister called for tougher UN and EU sanctions against the ruling military government there.

Speaking during a question and answer session at the Labour conference in Bournemouth on Wednesday, he said: "I would like to see all the pressures of the world put upon this regime now."

Brown said this should include "further sanctions" and pressure from the neighbouring Chinese government.

He praised opposition figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for most of the past 20 years, as an "unbelievably courageous woman" and the legitimate "elected" leader.

"This regime is under so much pressure now, from throughout all opinion in all of the world," the prime minister said.

Earlier he revealed that the EU is looking at a fresh range of sanctions that could be imposed.

"The whole world is now watching Burma and its illegitimate and repressive regime should know that the whole world is going to hold it to account," he told reporters.

"The age of impunity in neglecting and overriding human rights is over."

And he called on the UN Security Council to discuss wider international sanctions with "a new dimension".

"I hope the Security Council will meet immediately, meet today and discuss this issue and look at what can be done," Brown said.

"The first thing that should be done is the UN envoy should be sent to Burma to make them directly aware that any trampling of human rights that takes place is unacceptable.

"I think the international pressure that can be made to be felt in the next few days is incredibly important. I want to see the whole of the world getting together on this. Each continent of the world can come together.

"There will be no impunity in future for those who trample the human rights of the people of Burma."

Demonstrations

Before flying to New York for the UN general assembly himself, foreign secretary David Miliband added that: "It is very important that we maintain this unanimous international call for restraint ... restraint must remain the order of the day."

While no contact had been possible with Suu Kyi, Miliband said: "She will know that the world is on her side and a democratic Burma must be the end result.

"But in the short-term, the message is restraint and protection of the brave people who are marching."

Miliband revealed that his ambassador in Rangoon Mark Canning had told him on Wednesday morning that demonstrations were continuing in in the country in defiance of the ban on public assembly.

"He reported to me some quite extraordinary scenes happening just outside the British embassy, where thousands of people, led by monks but not only monks, have marched past the British Embassy," he said.

"Many of them turned towards the British embassy and applauded as they went past.

"The situation remains very tense, but there remain very large numbers of people out on the streets. The monks have been marching for nine days, many of them - many of their feet are now bloody as a result of the time that they have been marching.

"He has described to me that the international community's voice is a factor in the discussions going on there, and it is very important that we continue to maintain this unanimous international call for restraint and also the international message that there will be accountability in respect of any decisions that are taken. Restraint must remain the order of the day."

'Determination'

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Michael Moore said it was "essential" to tighten sanctions on the regime.

"The bravery and determination of the monks and their supporters in the face of the despotic and oppressive junta is truly inspirational and we must continue to offer our support to the Burmese people in their struggle against tyranny," he said.

"The situation is critical and fast-changing, but we must make clear that we expect the junta to show restraint and to refrain from further action against the protesters.

"The international community must do more than watch impotently from the sidelines.

"The prime minister is right to call for an urgent Security Council discussion today and it is essential that European Union and international sanctions on the regime are tightened.

"China and India have a crucial influence on the regime in Burma and they must use that influence constructively and in support of international action to protect the human rights of the people of Burma."