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Concern as Burma rallies continue Burma monks issue defiant message
(about 1 hour later)
Buddhist monks in Burma have been taking part in a fourth straight day of anti-government protests, as UN diplomats voiced concern at the unrest. Leaders of protests by Buddhist monks in Burma say they intend to continue their peaceful demonstrations until the military government collapses.
Some 400 monks chanted prayers and sermons at pagodas in and around the old capital Rangoon before dispersing. The statement by the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks came as 1,500 monks took to the streets of Rangoon in their biggest protest yet.
Several hundred have taken part in protests this week over recent government attempts to silence them. This is the fourth straight day of marches by monks in protest at recent government attempts to silence critics.
UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari has called for urgent efforts to address the situation. Diplomats at the United Nations have expressed concern at the crisis.
Developments in Burma had "raised serious concerns in the international community and once again underscore the urgency to step up our efforts to find solutions to the challenges facing the country", Mr Gambari told the Security Council in a closed briefing, the UN said. In a strongly-worded statement, seen by the BBC, the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks described the military government as "the enemy of the people".
US and British officials also spoke on the issue after the briefing. It said the monks would keep up their protests until they had "wiped the military dictatorship from the land of Burma".
The group has asked people across the country to pray in their doorways at 2000 hours on Sunday for 15 minutes.
This is the first time the monks have explicitly challenged the government in this way, the BBC's Jonathan Head in neighbouring Thailand says.
Although the statement falls short of calling for an all-out popular insurrection, it must be what the generals now fear, our correspondent adds.
Fresh momentum
For a fourth day, hundreds of monks took to the streets in the former capital Rangoon.
Braving heavy monsoon rains, they chanted prayers and sermons as they converged on the Shwedagon Pagoda, Burma's most revered temple and focal point of the recent protests.
Profile: Shwedagon PagodaProfile: Shwedagon Pagoda
US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said the situation was a threat to regional stability and urged Burmese leaders to allow Mr Gambari into the country as soon as possible. Their numbers swelled to more than 1,500 and they were clapped by onlookers as the march moved on through the city.
"We certainly are appalled by the steps the regime has taken to silence peaceful protest and to clamp down on dissent," British ambassador John Sawyers was quoted as saying. Hundreds have been taking part in protests around the country since Tuesday, seeking a government apology for the violent break-up of an earlier demonstration.
Fuel price hikes
On Friday, more than 200 monks marched through Rangoon to the Shwedagon Pagoda, Burma's most revered temple and focal point of their recent protests.
Supporters lined the streets as the monks converged on the pagoda, chanting prayers and sermons.
Another 200 monks were said to have gathered at two other pagodas on the outskirts of Rangoon.
The numbers appeared to be smaller than at protests earlier in the week, which saw several hundred monks take part in marches around the country.
They have also been withholding religious duties from anyone connected to the military.They have also been withholding religious duties from anyone connected to the military.
The monks want a government apology for the violent break-up of a demonstration in the town of Pakokku on 5 September. The decision by monks to take to the streets has given fresh momentum to protests that began in mid-August over the government's sudden decision to double the price of fuel.
Protests have been ongoing in Burma since the government decided to double the price of fuel in mid-August.
Initial protests were led by activists, dozens of whom have now been arrested.Initial protests were led by activists, dozens of whom have now been arrested.
The movement has turned into the largest public show of opposition to the Burmese authorities since the uprising of 1988.The movement has turned into the largest public show of opposition to the Burmese authorities since the uprising of 1988.
If their past behaviour is any guide, it cannot be long before the military uses force to stop such opposition, our correspondent says.
'Appalled'
The situation in Burma was discussed at the United Nations on Thursday, with UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari calling for urgent efforts to address the growing unrest.
Developments in Burma had "raised serious concerns in the international community and once again underscore the urgency to step up our efforts to find solutions to the challenges facing the country", Mr Gambari told the Security Council in a closed briefing, the UN said.
US and British officials also spoke on the issue after the briefing.
US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said the situation was a threat to regional stability and urged Burmese leaders to allow Mr Gambari into the country as soon as possible.
"We certainly are appalled by the steps the regime has taken to silence peaceful protest and to clamp down on dissent," British ambassador John Sawyers was quoted as saying.