(Adds comments from White House spokesman and Romano Prodi) Sept 26 (Reuters) - Troops fired shots over the heads of large crowds in Myanmar's main city on Wednesday as a crackdown against the biggest anti-junta protests in 20 years intensified. Two monks and a civilian were killed, hospital and monastery sources said. Following are comments from nations and top officials about protests in Myanmar and the junta's crackdown. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN GORDON JOHNDROE The United States said it was "very troubled" about the actions of Myanmar's military government and reports of people killed in anti-junta protests. "If these stories are accurate, the U.S. is very troubled that the regime would treat the Burmese people this way. We call on the junta to proceed in a peaceful transition to democracy," Johndroe said. ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI "The international community must mobilise to uphold respect for human rights everywhere in the world and to ensure liberty to express people's own opinions and dissent in a peaceful way," said Prodi, a former president of the EU's executive Commission. He said he would ask the European Union to hold an urgent meeting on Myanmar to seek ways to "halt the violence". BRITISH PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN "I hope the Security Council will meet immediately, meet today, and discuss this issue and look at what can be done. The first thing that should be done is the U.N. envoy should be sent to Burma (Myanmar)," Brown told reporters at a conference of Britain's ruling Labour Party. "There will be no impunity in future for those who trample the human rights of the people of Burma." EUROPEAN COMMISSION SPOKESMAN AMADEU ALTAFAJ TARDIO "We are trying to check these and other reports, indicating that military forces first of all have sealed off the centre of Yangon and firing warning shots over peaceful demonstrators (which) clearly means a tactic of increased intimidation," the spokesman said when asked at a regular news briefing about the report of dead in Myanmar. "Once again, I repeat it. (The) strong demand from the European Commission to the authorities to refrain from the use of force and violence against peaceful demonstrators. The citizens and monks, it is important to emphasise, are exercising their undeniable right for freedom of expression and assembly. SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTRY "We join those who have asked the authorities in Myanmar to exercise maximum control because violent repression of the recent protests could have very serious consequences," the ministry said in a statement. "In particular we reiterate our desire for political prisoners to be released and for steps to be taken to create a political framework that allows for the consolidation of democracy and respect for human rights." SINGAPORE FOREIGN MINISTRY "Singapore is deeply concerned by reports of clashes between protesters and security forces in Yangon. "We urge the Myanmar authorities to exercise utmost restraint. We call upon all parties to avoid provocative actions and to work towards reconciliation and a peaceful resolution of the situation."
