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| Burma riot police beat back monks | Burma riot police beat back monks |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Burmese police have used batons and tear gas to beat back monks and other protesters at a Rangoon pagoda but despite this 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | In a further sign that the military authorities are cracking down, two key dissidents were arrested late on Tuesday night. |
| So far no shots have been fired but the atmosphere in Rangoon is described by eyewitnesses as extremely tense, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok. | |
| The mood among the crowds of bystanders is becoming very angry over the treatment of the monks, our South East Asia correspondent reports. | |
| Dragged away | |
| Up to 5,000 monks and other protesters are on the march through Rangoon, some of them wearing surgical masks in anticipation of the security forces using tear gas, Reuters news agency reports. | |
| KEY PROTEST SITES 1. Shwedagon pagoda. Holiest site in Rangoon2. Sule pagoda. Downtown focal point for marches | KEY PROTEST SITES 1. Shwedagon pagoda. Holiest site in Rangoon2. Sule pagoda. Downtown focal point for marches |
| They are defying a ban on all public gatherings of more than five people. | |
| When protesters who turned up at Shwedagon, which is blocked off by security forces, police beat their shields with their batons and yelled orders to disperse before giving chase. | |
| Some demonstrators were beaten and dragged away in trucks and dozens were arrested. | |
| Eyewitnesses saw a number of protesters fall to the ground amid the chaos. | |
| "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." |
| Two of the country's most prominent dissidents, U Win Naing and popular comedian Zaganar, were arrested overnight. | |
| US sanctions | |
| 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". | 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. |