Dhaka, Dec. 12 -- A UN expert on Friday urged the United Kingdom to help mobilise international opposition to the Myanmar military junta's claim that the election that it will stage later this month is legitimate, while taking other measures to strengthen its support of human rights in Myanmar.

"I am heartened by the United Kingdom's rejection of the junta's election scheme," said Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, in a statement at the end of his visit to the UK.

"I urge the UK Government to proactively reach out to other Governments, especially those in Asia, to ensure they do the same. A strong, coordinated rejection of these sham elections is essential to deny the junta the means to fabri...