The U.N. Security Council strongly backed a return to democracy in Myanmar on Thursday and called for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all those arbitrarily detained by the military.

In its first statement on the militarys ouster of the government, the U.N.s most powerful body stressed the need to uphold democratic institutions and processes, refrain from violence, and fully respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.

The councils 15 members also encouraged dialogue and reconciliation in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar.

In addition to calling for the immediate release of State Counsellor Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, the council expressed concern at the restrictions on civil society, journalists and media workers.

The statement was issued two days after the council met behind closed doors to discuss the militarys seizure of power on the eve of the first meeting of the countrys new Parliament. The military said it was necessary because the government had not acted on the militarys unsubstantiated claims of fraud in Novembers election in which Suu Kyis party won a majority of seats.

At that meeting, Christine Schraner Burgener, the U.N. envoy for Myanmar, urged the council to ensure that democracy is expeditiously restored to the Southeast Asian nation. The council took no immediate action because China, a close neighbor of Myanmar, and Russia said they needed to consult their capitals.