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| New protests on Rangoon streets | New protests on Rangoon streets |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Several hundred people have held protests in Burma's main city of Rangoon, despite three days of crackdowns on pro-democracy protests. | Several hundred people have held protests in Burma's main city of Rangoon, despite three days of crackdowns on pro-democracy protests. |
| Protesters chanted slogans before being baton-charged by security forces, and at least two were severely beaten, eyewitnesses said. | Protesters chanted slogans before being baton-charged by security forces, and at least two were severely beaten, eyewitnesses said. |
| In the central town of Pakokku hundreds of monks reportedly led a peaceful march of thousands of demonstrators. | In the central town of Pakokku hundreds of monks reportedly led a peaceful march of thousands of demonstrators. |
| The protests came as UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Rangoon. | The protests came as UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Rangoon. |
| He was due to fly to the new Burmese capital, Naypyidaw, to hold key talks with the country's ruling generals. | He was due to fly to the new Burmese capital, Naypyidaw, to hold key talks with the country's ruling generals. |
| Affront | Affront |
| Eyewitnesses said that after gathering in the centre of Rangoon, protesters were now dispersing and the streets were back to normal. | Eyewitnesses said that after gathering in the centre of Rangoon, protesters were now dispersing and the streets were back to normal. |
| href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7019882.stm">Exiles in desperate conditions class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7017162.stm">Heading for the unknown Inside the junta's thinking | |
| Some eyewitnesses told the BBC that more than 1,000 people demonstrated against the government. | Some eyewitnesses told the BBC that more than 1,000 people demonstrated against the government. |
| This is considerably fewer than at the height of the protests. | This is considerably fewer than at the height of the protests. |
| But the BBC's Chris Hogg in neighbouring Thailand says that even small protests in such a tightly controlled society are an affront to the government. | But the BBC's Chris Hogg in neighbouring Thailand says that even small protests in such a tightly controlled society are an affront to the government. |
| State television had earlier announced that peace and stability had returned to Burma and that a pro-government rally had been held in the northern state of Kachin. | State television had earlier announced that peace and stability had returned to Burma and that a pro-government rally had been held in the northern state of Kachin. |
| There were isolated reports of new violence. | There were isolated reports of new violence. |
| UK Ambassador Mark Canning told the BBC there was an extremely heavy military presence and he saw a couple of severe beatings of protesters, one a middle-aged woman. | UK Ambassador Mark Canning told the BBC there was an extremely heavy military presence and he saw a couple of severe beatings of protesters, one a middle-aged woman. |
| There were also reports of at least three protests elsewhere - in Mandalay, Sittwe and Pakokku. | There were also reports of at least three protests elsewhere - in Mandalay, Sittwe and Pakokku. |
| In Pakokku, there was no visible security presence, as the monks appeared to have struck a deal with the local authorities allowing them to march as long as the protest was peaceful, AFP news agency said. | In Pakokku, there was no visible security presence, as the monks appeared to have struck a deal with the local authorities allowing them to march as long as the protest was peaceful, AFP news agency said. |
| Talks | Talks |
| Burma has now seen almost two weeks of sustained anti-government protests, and three days of tough crackdowns on the protesters by the military. | Burma has now seen almost two weeks of sustained anti-government protests, and three days of tough crackdowns on the protesters by the military. |
| The cork has been put in the bottle, but the pressures are still there Mark CanningUK ambassador Accounts from Burma Send us your comments Where world players stand | The cork has been put in the bottle, but the pressures are still there Mark CanningUK ambassador Accounts from Burma Send us your comments Where world players stand |
| Internet links, which the government cut to stem the flow of information about the protests, are reported to be working intermittently. | Internet links, which the government cut to stem the flow of information about the protests, are reported to be working intermittently. |
| It is not clear whether the security forces have been directly targeting protesters or just shooting warning shots to disperse the crowds, but Burmese officials said nine people were killed on Thursday. | It is not clear whether the security forces have been directly targeting protesters or just shooting warning shots to disperse the crowds, but Burmese officials said nine people were killed on Thursday. |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he believed the loss of life had been "far greater". | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he believed the loss of life had been "far greater". |
| Monks, who were initially at the vanguard of the protests, have been arrested or confined to their monasteries. | Monks, who were initially at the vanguard of the protests, have been arrested or confined to their monasteries. |
| "I don't think that we have any more hope to win," one young woman told the Associated Press, commenting on their arrest. "The monks are the ones who give us courage." | "I don't think that we have any more hope to win," one young woman told the Associated Press, commenting on their arrest. "The monks are the ones who give us courage." |
| It is not clear which members of the government Mr Gambari will be allowed to meet, though the White House said he should be allowed to meet "anyone he wants", including opposition figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi. | It is not clear which members of the government Mr Gambari will be allowed to meet, though the White House said he should be allowed to meet "anyone he wants", including opposition figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi. |
| Religious sites sealed off by troops in RangoonEnlarge Image | Religious sites sealed off by troops in RangoonEnlarge Image |
| He is being encouraged to persuade the government to hold a dialogue with the protesters, our correspondent says, but few expect him to have much success. | He is being encouraged to persuade the government to hold a dialogue with the protesters, our correspondent says, but few expect him to have much success. |
| Mr Canning said there were deep underlying political and economic reasons for the protests which would not go away so easily. | Mr Canning said there were deep underlying political and economic reasons for the protests which would not go away so easily. |
| "Even if they're crushed off the streets temporarily, these are forces that are going to cause things like this to happen at some time in the future," he said. | "Even if they're crushed off the streets temporarily, these are forces that are going to cause things like this to happen at some time in the future," he said. |
Are you in the area? Are you affected by the events in Burma? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the area? Are you affected by the events in Burma? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to + 44 (0) 7725 100 100 | You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to + 44 (0) 7725 100 100 |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |