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| Burma activists held over protest | Burma activists held over protest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Military leaders in Burma have arrested at least 13 activists, official media has reported. | Military leaders in Burma have arrested at least 13 activists, official media has reported. |
| Those held include at least seven top leaders of the pro-democracy 88 Generation Students group. | Those held include at least seven top leaders of the pro-democracy 88 Generation Students group. |
| The arrests came two days after they led a protest in Rangoon, the main city, against a sharp rise in fuel prices, amid reports of more protests. | |
| State media said the activists were arrested for "undermining stability and the security of the nation". | State media said the activists were arrested for "undermining stability and the security of the nation". |
| The arrests happened late on Tuesday night. | The arrests happened late on Tuesday night. |
| The seven activists held are all leaders of a student group that was at the forefront of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising that was violently put down by the military. | The seven activists held are all leaders of a student group that was at the forefront of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising that was violently put down by the military. |
| One of them, Min Ko Naing, is one of Burma's most prominent dissidents. He has won awards in the US and Europe for his work on human rights. | One of them, Min Ko Naing, is one of Burma's most prominent dissidents. He has won awards in the US and Europe for his work on human rights. |
| The US Campaign for Burma, a Washington-based activist group, said that the group were taken to a detention centre in Rangoon. | The US Campaign for Burma, a Washington-based activist group, said that the group were taken to a detention centre in Rangoon. |
| Five university students and three activists from another group were also held, the group said. State media did not identify the other activists arrested. | Five university students and three activists from another group were also held, the group said. State media did not identify the other activists arrested. |
| Stranded commuters | Stranded commuters |
| The move follows a protest march on Sunday against last week's surprise doubling of fuel prices. | The move follows a protest march on Sunday against last week's surprise doubling of fuel prices. |
| Many taxis and buses did not run after the hikes | Many taxis and buses did not run after the hikes |
| The price of petrol rose from 1,500 kyat ($1.17) to 2,500 kyat ($1.95) per gallon, while diesel rose from 1,500 kyat to 3,000 kyat per gallon. | The price of petrol rose from 1,500 kyat ($1.17) to 2,500 kyat ($1.95) per gallon, while diesel rose from 1,500 kyat to 3,000 kyat per gallon. |
| The unannounced rise - the first in almost two years - left commuters stranded. | The unannounced rise - the first in almost two years - left commuters stranded. |
| Many buses and taxis did not run and those that did charged higher fares that workers struggled to pay. | Many buses and taxis did not run and those that did charged higher fares that workers struggled to pay. |
| Burma is one of Southeast Asia's poorest countries and the fuel price rise is likely to hit people hard. | Burma is one of Southeast Asia's poorest countries and the fuel price rise is likely to hit people hard. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says that it seems likely that the activists' arrest stems from the government's fear that protests over the fuel prices could spread. | The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says that it seems likely that the activists' arrest stems from the government's fear that protests over the fuel prices could spread. |