Protesters hold banners during a demonstration next to Myanmar's embassy to Germany in Berlin yesterday. The banner in the background reads: 'We Ask for International Solidarity'. - Reuters

YANGON, Myanmar (AP):

Myanmar's junta leader reverted to his old bag of tricks yesterday, stalling a U.N. envoy for yet another day, putting off the apparently onerous task of hearing international demands for an end to Myanmar's harsh crackdown on democracy advocates.

As U.N. envoy Ibrabim Gambari is finding out, Senior Gen. Than Shwe does not bother with the usual diplomatic protocol and is not an easy man to meet.

Gambari, the U.N.'s special envoy to Myanmar, has been in Myanmar since Saturday with the express purpose of seeing Than Shwe, but the junta's top man has apparently been too busy.

Instead of the meeting that he had hoped for, Gambari was shipped up Monday to a remote northern town for an acade-mic conference on EU-ASEAN relations, diplomats in Yangon reported, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

The town of Lashio where the conference was held is 400 kilo-meters (240 miles) north of Naypyitaw, the secure, isolated city carved out of the jungle where Than Shwe moved the capital in 2005.

Gambari was granted an appointment today with Than Shwe in Naypyitaw, an Asian diplomat said. The United Nations itself made no mention of such a promise, but reiterated that Gambari "looks forward to meeting" Than Shwe before he leaves.

Diplomats said the envoy plans to leave the country today.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the United States wants to see Gambari convey a clear message to the junta on behalf of the international community "about the need for Burma's leaders to engage in a real and serious political dialogue with all relative parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi."