BANGKOK (AFP) -- UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari demanded on Monday that Myanmar's ruling junta immediately stop arresting pro-democracy activists and targeting dissidents, saying the crackdown was ""extremely disturbing"".

Kick-starting a regional tour to push Asian nations to pressure the regime, Gambari said he hoped to return to Myanmar for more talks by mid-November, or earlier if possible.
Despite international condemnation of its deadly crackdown on protests led by Buddhist monks last month, the regime arrested six more key dissidents over the weekend, according to Amnesty International.
""The reports of arrests of the remaining student leaders, interrogation and acts of intimidation are extremely disturbing and run counter to the spirit of mutual engagement between the UN and Myanmar,"" Gambari told reporters.
""These actions must stop at once,"" he said.
He was speaking after meeting Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram at the start of an Asian tour aimed at winning support among Myanmar's neighbors and allies for tougher action against the junta.
Last month's protests were the biggest challenge to the regime in nearly 20 years, but were put down in a crackdown by troops and riot police that left at least 13 people dead and more than 2,000 locked up.
The United States, Britain and France have led efforts throughout the United Nations to condemn the regime and urge the release of political prisoners.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown reiterated demands that the junta must ""start a process of reconciliation with the opposition"" including Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been in detention for 12 of the past 18 years.
EU foreign ministers are due to meet later Monday in Luxembourg to discuss tougher sanctions against the regime.
Brown said Britain would push for ""tough sanctions, including on individuals and commodities like timber, gems and metals.""
Myanmar's state media however accused Western nations of trying to install a puppet government.
""Myanmar is situated in a geographically strategic area. It is important for the leaders of western nations (that Myanmar) become their stronghold. That is why they are trying to install a government under their influence,"" the official New Light of Myanmar said.
Analysts believe only Myanmar's closest allies and trading partners -- like China, India and Thailand -- have any chance of convincing its reclusive generals to alter course.
""Support of regional partners has to be there in order for Myanmar to move forward,"" Gambari said.
China, one of Myanmar's biggest trading partners and supporters, backed a UN Security Council statement last week deploring the crackdown.
Thailand, which has been ruled by a military-backed government since last year's coup, has formally protested at the violence. It was Myanmar's biggest investor last year, mainly due to a six-billion-dollar hydroelectric project.
Gambari was due later Monday to meet with Thailand's army-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who has indicated he would support taking further steps against Myanmar within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
""As an ASEAN member, Thailand will listen to the UN envoy first about any proposals that he raises, and we will consider what we can do,"" Surayud told reporters.
The kingdom is also one of Myanmar's biggest trading partners, with more than three billion dollars in bilateral trade last year -- mainly Thai imports of desperately needed natural gas.
Gambari was due to fly Tuesday to Malaysia and then carry on to Indonesia, India, China and Japan.
His tour comes amid growing concern for the wellbeing of about 1,000 people still detained over the protests, after a Thailand-based monitoring group said last week that one activist died after being tortured during interrogation.
The protests began in mid-August in anger at a surprise hike in fuel prices that left many unable to afford even the bus fare to work.
But the rallies swelled into a mass movement last month when Buddhist monks took the lead, drawing up to 100,000 people onto the streets of Yangon.