FACTBOX: Global reaction to Myanmar protests

(Reuters) - Major nations called on Myanmar to show restraint over fears the nation's military rulers will crack down on the biggest pro-democracy protests in nearly 20 years.

U.S. President George W. Bush is set to announce more sanctions against Myanmar during a speech on Tuesday to the annual U.N. General Assembly in New York.

Bush will advocate supporting groups in Myanmar that are trying to advance freedom and announce new sanctions directed at key members of the military rulers and their financial supporters, said White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley.

Following are comments from nations and top officials about the growing protests in Myanmar.

CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN JIANG YU

"China always adopts a policy of non-interference. As Myanmar's neighbor, China hopes to see stability and economic development in Myanmar.

"The stability of Myanmar serves the interest of Myanmar itself and the interests of the international community."

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN

In a letter to EU heads of state, Brown called for an immediate agreement to "warn the Burmese government that we are watching their behavior and that the EU will impose tougher sanctions if they make the wrong choices".

In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: "We need concerted international action to discourage violence. We need to stand together", and encouraged the U.N. special envoy to hold talks on the crisis as soon as possible.

ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU OF SOUTH AFRICA

"It is so like the rolling mass action that eventually toppled apartheid," the Nobel peace laureate said in a statement released in Cape Town.

"We admire our brave sisters and brothers in Burma/Myanmar and want them to know that we support their peaceful protests to end a vicious rule of oppression and injustice ... Victory is assured. They are on the winning side, the side of freedom, justice and democracy."

EUROPEAN COMMISSION SPOKESMAN AMADEU ALTAFAJ TARDIO

"We are indeed very concerned about the situation in Burma. We are following the peaceful protests -- and I stress the word peaceful -- by the Buddhist monks and many people from civil society.

"So far no violence has been used to quell the peaceful demonstrations. However, we are also concerned by an increasing military presence on the streets -- more and more visible -- and therefore we are urging all stakeholders, but particularly the government of Burma/Myanmar, to exercise maximum restraint."