Updated: 2007-10-20 22:15

YANGON -- The Myanmar authorities on Saturday pre-lifted its night-to-dawn curfew imposed on the biggest city of Yangon and the second largest city of Mandalay before expiry, according to respective announcements broadcast by loudspeakers on the authorities' vehicles patrolling around the cities as well as local police authorities.

The 60-day curfew, which started on September 25 and was cut shorter for two times, was lifted before expiring on November 23.

The lifting of the curfew was seen as being made following the restoration to calm and normal of the situation in the two cities.

The lift of the curfew came as Ibrahim Gambari, Special Envoy of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, is touring Asian nations to consult with regional partners about the situation in Myanmar. His trip has covered Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and is heading for India, China and Japan.

Based on Gambari's presentation to the UN Security Council ( UNSC) about the situation in Myanmar following his first urgent mission to Myanmar from September 29 to October 2, a presidential statement of the UNSC on the country was unanimously adopted on October 11, calling for efforts to achieve a national reconciliation in the nation.

During his previous four-day visit in Myanmar, Gambari conveyed the message of Senior-General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, to Aung San Suu Kyi, detained general secretary of the National League for Democracy (NLD). Than Shwe's message offered to meet and talk personally and conditionally with Aung San Suu Kyi.

As a follow-up, as proposed by Gambari, the Myanmar government appointed on October 8 Deputy Minister of Labor U Aung Kyi to act as liaison minister to get link with Aung San Suu Kyi.