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Nuns in Burma anti-junta rallies Nuns in Burma anti-junta rallies
(40 minutes later)
About 5,000 Burmese monks have been joined by nuns for the first time on the seventh day of protests calling for an end to the military government.About 5,000 Burmese monks have been joined by nuns for the first time on the seventh day of protests calling for an end to the military government.
Cheered on by 10,000 onlookers, up to 150 nuns joined the march from the revered Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon. Cheered on by 10,000 onlookers, up to 150 nuns dressed in white joined the march through the heart of Rangoon.
It came a day after the Buddhist monks were greeted by Burma's detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. It came a day after the Buddhist monks marched by the home of detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The protests have become biggest public show of opposition to the generals since the uprising of 1988. The protests have snowballed into the biggest public show of opposition to the generals since the 1988 uprising.
BBC South Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says the demonstrations are escalating because the monks are now urging civilians to join in, after advising them last week not to get involved.
BarricadesBarricades
Ms Suu Kyi emerged on Saturday from the home where she has been under house arrest since 2003 as the monks were allowed through a roadblock. Apparently unsure what to do, the security forces appear to be standing back for the moment and the next act in the drama is impossible to predict, says our correspondent.
But the barricades were firmly back in place on Sunday to prevent a repeat protest march past the democracy icon's home. Ms Suu Kyi emerged tearfully on Saturday from the home where she has been under house arrest since 2003 to pray with the monks, after they were allowed through a roadblock.
Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi
But on Sunday the barricades were firmly back in place and there was a heavy security presence near the democracy icon's home to prevent a repeat protest march past.
Witnesses said the crowds formed a protective human chain, as the monks and nuns set off from Burma's most famous landmark, the revered Shwedagon Pagoda.
Some demonstrators chanted "Release Suu Kyi" as they continued to the nearby Sule Pagoda, before passing the US Embassy.
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ms Suu Kyi has spent 11 of the last 18 years in detention.
In 1990 her party won national elections, but these were annulled by the army and she was never allowed to take office.
The leaders of the demonstrations have vowed to continue until the collapse of the military government.The leaders of the demonstrations have vowed to continue until the collapse of the military government.
They have urged the Burmese people to hold prayer vigils in their doorways for 15 minutes at 2000 (1530 GMT) on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The monks have urged the Burmese people to hold prayer vigils in their doorways for 15 minutes at 2000 (1530 GMT) on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
The protests began last month when the government doubled fuel prices. The rallies began last month when the government doubled fuel prices.
But they have taken on new momentum in the past week since the religious order became more widely involved.But they have taken on new momentum in the past week since the religious order became more widely involved.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1950505.stm">Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi On Saturday, at least 2,000 monks took to the streets in Rangoon, 10,000 monks went on the march in Mandalay and there were protests in five townships across Burma.
In what appeared to be an unprecedented move on Saturday, guards allowed the monks to walk past the home of Ms Suu Kyi, who has spent 11 of the last 18 years in detention.
In 1990 the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate's party won national elections, but these were annulled by the army and she was never allowed to take office.
Witnesses said Ms Suu Kyi walked out with two other women and cried as she watched the monks and prayed with them but did not speak.
Also on Saturday in Rangoon, at least 2,000 monks were watched by plain clothes security officials as they took to the streets.
In Mandalay, a monastic centre of Buddhist learning, up to 10,000 monks held a rally.
Protests also took place across Burma in the five townships of Chauk, Shwebo, Mongwa, Taung Dwin Gyi and Ye Nan Chaung.
There were no reports of any violence on Saturday.
On Friday, the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks branded Burma's military rulers "the enemy of the people" and pledged to "wipe the military dictatorship from the land".On Friday, the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks branded Burma's military rulers "the enemy of the people" and pledged to "wipe the military dictatorship from the land".
Are you taking part in the protests? Please use the form below to tell us about your experiences.Are you taking part in the protests? Please use the form below to tell us about your experiences.
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