YANGON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar government said it was much surprised by a recent presidential statement of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the situation of Myanmar, according to Monday's official newspaper.

    A government announcement, published in the New Light of Myanmar in response to the May 2 UNSC statement, stressed that Myanmar's situation does not threaten regional as well as international peace and security.

    The announcement said it has set a referendum for the draft constitution to be held on May 10 and that multi-party democracy general election to follow in 2010 under a new constitution.

    "The referendum is going to take place in a few days time and the entire people of the country are eagerly looking forward to that," it said.

    "The referendum to approve the draft constitution is a matter to be decided solely by the people," the announcement emphasized, saying that "the holding of a referendum is a matter which falls within the domestic jurisdiction and the draft constitution can be adopted and the transition to democracy can be materialized through the holding of such referendum."

    The government announcement maintained that it will continue to implement its seven-step roadmap.