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Burmese monks in pagoda protest | Burmese monks in pagoda protest |
(30 minutes later) | |
Hundreds of Buddhist monks have marched around Burma's most revered temple, in a third consecutive day of protests against the military government. | |
The monks were allowed into the Shwedagon Pagoda, which dominates the former capital, Rangoon, for the first time since their protests began. | |
On Wednesday, hundreds of monks marched through Sittwe, Mandalay and Rangoon. | On Wednesday, hundreds of monks marched through Sittwe, Mandalay and Rangoon. |
They want a government apology for the violent break-up of a recent rally, triggered by protests over price rises. | They want a government apology for the violent break-up of a recent rally, triggered by protests over price rises. |
There have been persistent protests across Burma since shock fuel price rises last month, which have led to a sharp rise in the price of consumer goods. | |
Police presence | |
In Rangoon on Thursday, dozens of plainclothes police officers followed the monks with video cameras as they marched towards the temple, witnesses said. | |
The pagoda was also surrounded by dozens of plainclothes security officials and riot police trucks were on standby. | |
Once inside, the Buddhist monks held prayers, the Reuters news agency reported. | |
The monks are calling for the release of four of their fellow monks arrested during protests on Tuesday, which were violently dispersed by the security forces. | |
Correspondents say the monks' protests will be worrying for the government. | |
They are highly respected figures in Burmese society, and were key players in mass protests staged in 1988, which were violently put down by the military regime. |