Foreign ministers from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are under pressure to appoint a special envoy to Myanmar this week after months of negotiations failed to find a consensus candidate, Reuters reported.

Six months after the military toppled Myanmar's democratically elected government, ASEAN foreign ministers meet today when diplomats say they will aim to finalise a special envoy tasked with ending violence and promoting dialogue between the junta and its opponents.

The United Nations, United States and China, among others, have identified the Southeast Asian bloc, whose 10 members include Myanmar, as best placed to spearhead diplomatic efforts to restore stability in Myanmar.