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Burma riot police beat back monks | Burma riot police beat back monks |
(10 minutes later) | |
Burmese police have used batons and tear gas to beat back Buddhist monks and other protesters at a Rangoon pagoda, but a new march is under way. | |
Riot police charged the crowd outside the Shwedagon Pagoda as demonstrators readied for their ninth day of protest marches, eyewitnesses say. | |
Some of the protesters seemed to be heading towards the home of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. | |
Police and troops have been ringing Buddhist monasteries in the city. | Police and troops have been ringing Buddhist monasteries in the city. |
We have already decided to risk our lives for the people, Senior monk | |
Analysts fear a repeat of the violence in 1988, when troops opened fire on unarmed protestors, killing thousands. | Analysts fear a repeat of the violence in 1988, when troops opened fire on unarmed protestors, killing thousands. |
In a further sign that the military authorities are cracking down, two key dissidents were arrested late on Tuesday night. | |
It appears that small groups of monks seem set on defying calls by the military to end their daily protests, says the BBC's Asia correspondent Andrew Harding. | |
The protesters had turned up at Shwedagon, which was blocked off by security forces, in defiance of a ban on all public gatherings of more than five people, and a night-time curfew. | The protesters had turned up at Shwedagon, which was blocked off by security forces, in defiance of a ban on all public gatherings of more than five people, and a night-time curfew. |
Police beat their shields with their batons and yelled orders to disperse before chasing scores of monks and their supporters. | Police beat their shields with their batons and yelled orders to disperse before chasing scores of monks and their supporters. |
Eyewitnesses say some protesters fell to the ground amid the chaos. | Eyewitnesses say some protesters fell to the ground amid the chaos. |
KEY PROTEST SITES 1. Shwedagon pagoda. Holiest site in Rangoon2. Sule pagoda. Downtown focal point for marches | |
"We have already decided to risk our lives for the people, although there might be some clashes," one senior monk told AFP news agency before the baton charge. | "We have already decided to risk our lives for the people, although there might be some clashes," one senior monk told AFP news agency before the baton charge. |
"We will show our kindness first." | "We will show our kindness first." |
The junta, which repressed the 1988 protests by killing some 3,000 people, broke its silence over the mounting protests late on Monday, saying it was ready to "take action". | |
US President George W Bush has announced a tightening of existing US economic sanctions against it. | US President George W Bush has announced a tightening of existing US economic sanctions against it. |
America already has an arms ban on Burma, a ban on all exports, a ban on new investment and a ban on financial services. | America already has an arms ban on Burma, a ban on all exports, a ban on new investment and a ban on financial services. |
China, a close ally of Burma, has called for stability and the EU has also urged the junta to show restraint and launch a process of real political reform. | China, a close ally of Burma, has called for stability and the EU has also urged the junta to show restraint and launch a process of real political reform. |
The protests were triggered by the government's decision to double the price of fuel last month, hitting people hard in the impoverished nation. | The protests were triggered by the government's decision to double the price of fuel last month, hitting people hard in the impoverished nation. |
Are you in Burma? How have you been affected by the current situation? What is the mood like in the country? Send us your comments and experiences. | Are you in Burma? How have you been affected by the current situation? What is the mood like in the country? Send us your comments and experiences. |
You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +447725100100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +447725100100. |
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At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |