Amnesty International Friday welcomed the UN Security Council’s “strong” condemnation of the continued use of violence against demonstrators in Myanmar but criticized the world body for failing to call for the immediate release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

“Obviously, we wish the council had spoken out much stronger and had called for the immediate unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other prisoners of conscience,” Amnesty’s Secretary General, Irene Khan, said in a statement released in London.

Such releases were essential if there is to be any progress on the “genuine dialogue” and “national reconciliation” sought by the Security Council, said Khan.

However, in its first formal statement on the situation in Myanmar, the council had addressed crucial human rights issues, and for the first time ever, welcomed  a resolution recently adopted by the Human Rights Council, Khan added.

She said Amnesty had new reports from Myanmar that the military government was continuing a “witch-hunt” against those suspected of involvement in the demonstrations.

“This clearly flies in the face of the commitment the government has made to work with the United Nations,” said Khan.

“The Security Council has called for concrete actions and tangible results. We call on the council not only to keep the human rights situation under close and constant review but also to set a clear timetable and benchmarks for progress,” said Amnesty.