"And in terms of support for it, I do think that there is broad and general support for the idea that the Burmese regime does need to address the serious political problems in that country," department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters.

He did not specify which members in the council supported the move, saying the situation in Myanmar "is increasingly disturbing and is now posing a threat to the stability of the region itself."

"I'm not trying to predict for you any particular standing by individual members," Casey said, responding to a question. "I haven't done a survey of Security Council members at this point."

While the United States, Britain, France and several other council members have said the situation in Myanmar represented a threat to regional security, Japan, China and Russia have reportedly expressed opposing views at a council briefing on Wednesday.

The State Department had said after the rare briefing that Washington intended to pursue the unprecedented resolution to "underscore the international community's concerns about the situation" there.

The concerns include the "unjustifiable detention" of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and lack of "an inclusive and democratic political process" in Myanmar.

Casey said that he did not have a specific date at which the United States intended to introduce the resolution at the 15-state council.