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| Monks return to streets of Burma | Monks return to streets of Burma |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| More than 100 monks have marched in central Burma, the first time they have returned to the streets since last month's bloody crackdown on protests. | More than 100 monks have marched in central Burma, the first time they have returned to the streets since last month's bloody crackdown on protests. |
| The monks chanted and prayed as they marched through Pakokku, the site of an incident last month that triggered pro-democracy protests nationwide. | |
| The government said 10 people died during the crackdown, but diplomats believe the toll was much higher. | The government said 10 people died during the crackdown, but diplomats believe the toll was much higher. |
| Thousands more - many of them monks - were thought to have been detained. | Thousands more - many of them monks - were thought to have been detained. |
| Separately, the Human Rights Watch organisation has accused the Burmese army of forcibly recruiting children to cover gaps left by a lack of adult recruits. | Separately, the Human Rights Watch organisation has accused the Burmese army of forcibly recruiting children to cover gaps left by a lack of adult recruits. |
| Envoy's return | Envoy's return |
| Pakokku is a centre of Buddhist learning about 630km (390 miles) north-west of Rangoon. | |
| The junta began its crackdown on protests on 26 September | |
| Reports that soldiers had beaten up monks there on 6 September gave nationwide momentum to protests that had begun on 19 August as demonstrations against fuel price rises. | Reports that soldiers had beaten up monks there on 6 September gave nationwide momentum to protests that had begun on 19 August as demonstrations against fuel price rises. |
| Witnesses at Tuesday's march said the monks did not make any overt political statements but that the rally was clearly in defiance of the junta. | Witnesses at Tuesday's march said the monks did not make any overt political statements but that the rally was clearly in defiance of the junta. |
| All public gatherings of monks in Burma have been banned and many monasteries remain deserted. | All public gatherings of monks in Burma have been banned and many monasteries remain deserted. |
| There are hundreds of thousands of monks in Burma. They are highly revered and the clergy has historically been prominent in political protests. | There are hundreds of thousands of monks in Burma. They are highly revered and the clergy has historically been prominent in political protests. |
| The crackdown on protests sparked international action, with the US and EU imposing sanctions and embargoes. | The crackdown on protests sparked international action, with the US and EU imposing sanctions and embargoes. |
| 'Systemic abuse' | |
| United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari is expected to return to Burma shortly for talks with the military government in the wake of the crackdown. | United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari is expected to return to Burma shortly for talks with the military government in the wake of the crackdown. |
| I do think this sort of economic and political frustration that is within the population will manifest itself again in the coming months Mark Canning,UK ambassador to Burma Army 'recruiting children' | |
| A Western diplomat told Agence France-Presse news agency Mr Gambari would be in Burma from 3-8 November. | A Western diplomat told Agence France-Presse news agency Mr Gambari would be in Burma from 3-8 November. |
| Mr Gambari last visited on 29 September, just three days after the bloody crackdown began, and met junta chief Gen Than Shwe and detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. | |
| He has been on a six-nation Asian tour to try to increase pressure on the generals. | |
| British ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, told the BBC he expected further unrest in the country. | |
| "I do think this sort of economic and political frustration that is within the population will manifest itself again in the coming months." | |
| The Human Rights Watch (HRW) report says children as young as 10 are beaten or threatened with arrest to make them enlist. | The Human Rights Watch (HRW) report says children as young as 10 are beaten or threatened with arrest to make them enlist. |
| Both the army and ethnic rebels have been accused of using children before. | Both the army and ethnic rebels have been accused of using children before. |
| The military insists it is opposed to the use of child soldiers, but HRW says the abuses were extensive and systemic. | The military insists it is opposed to the use of child soldiers, but HRW says the abuses were extensive and systemic. |
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