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Burma activists held over protest Key activists arrested in Burma
(about 1 hour later)
Military leaders in Burma have arrested at least 13 activists, official media has reported. Burma's military leaders have arrested at least 13 activists who staged a protest on Sunday against a sharp rise in fuel prices.
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. Correspondents say it seems likely that the arrests stem from the government's fear that the protests could spread.
State media said the activists were arrested for "undermining stability and the security of the nation". However, at least 200 people have taken part in further fuel price protests in the capital, Rangoon.
The arrests happened late on Tuesday night. Defying the junta
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. Burma's state media said the activists were arrested for "undermining stability and the security of the nation".
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 seven activists being 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 US Campaign for Burma, a Washington-based activist group, said that the group were taken to a detention centre in Rangoon. Many taxis and buses did not run after the price risesThey include Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Min Zeya - some of Burma's most prominent dissidents after Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Five university students and three activists from another group were also held, the group said. State media did not identify the other activists arrested. Several university students and activists from another group were also reportedly held.
Stranded commuters The arrests were probably an attempt by the military to pre-empt a repeat of Sunday's protest at the doubling of fuel prices, correspondents say.
The move follows a protest march on Sunday against last week's surprise doubling of fuel prices. But on Wednesday about 200 people defied the visible presence of armed police and marched through Rangoon, while being cheered by onlookers.
Many taxis and buses did not run after the hikes "We are marching to highlight the economic hardship that Myanmar (Burma) people are facing now, which has been exacerbated by the fuel price hike," one protester told the Associated Press news agency.
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. According to the BBC's South-East Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, the prospect of economic protests linking up with the 1988 veterans would be especially alarming to the military government.
The unannounced rise - the first in almost two years - left commuters stranded. It was this combination of factors the led to the near overthrow of the military regime during that first uprising 19 years ago.
Many buses and taxis did not run and those that did charged higher fares that workers struggled to pay.
Burma is one of South East 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.