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| Monks lead largest Burma protest | Monks lead largest Burma protest |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of monks and civilians around Burma have held the biggest protest marches against the military government yet. | Tens of thousands of monks and civilians around Burma have held the biggest protest marches against the military government yet. |
| Eyewitnesses say up to 100,000 people marched peacefully through Rangoon with monks demanding better living conditions and national reconciliation. | Eyewitnesses say up to 100,000 people marched peacefully through Rangoon with monks demanding better living conditions and national reconciliation. |
| The military government has so far showed restraint over the protests. | The military government has so far showed restraint over the protests. |
| Monks are highly revered in Burma and any move by the junta to crush their demonstrations would spark an outcry. | Monks are highly revered in Burma and any move by the junta to crush their demonstrations would spark an outcry. |
| Map of Rangoon showing locations in the democracy march | Map of Rangoon showing locations in the democracy march |
| The military suppressed the last democracy uprising in 1988, killing some 3,000 people, correspondents say. | The military suppressed the last democracy uprising in 1988, killing some 3,000 people, correspondents say. |
| The monks had called for the entire country to join them in their campaign to overthrow the government, which began eight days ago, and Monday saw marches in at least 25 towns and cities, including Mandalay, Sittwe and Pakokku. | The monks had called for the entire country to join them in their campaign to overthrow the government, which began eight days ago, and Monday saw marches in at least 25 towns and cities, including Mandalay, Sittwe and Pakokku. |
| Witnesses say the demonstration in Rangoon, the largest city, was so huge they could not see the beginning or the end of it. | Witnesses say the demonstration in Rangoon, the largest city, was so huge they could not see the beginning or the end of it. |
| Junta holds back | Junta holds back |
| Five columns of monks, one reportedly stretching for more than 1km (0.6 miles), entered the city centre to cheers and applause from thousands of bystanders. | Five columns of monks, one reportedly stretching for more than 1km (0.6 miles), entered the city centre to cheers and applause from thousands of bystanders. |
| PROTESTS MOUNT 15 Aug: Junta doubles fuel prices, sparking protests5 Sept: Troops injure several monks at a protest in Pakokku17 Sept: The junta's failure to apologise for the injuries draws fresh protests by monks18-21 Sept: Daily marches by monks in Burmese cities gradually gather in size 22 Sept: 1,000 monks march to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon23 Sept: Up to 20,000 march in Rangoon24 Sept: New Rangoon march draws at least 50,000 and 24 other towns join in Q&A: Protests in Burma Send us your comments | |
| Civilians who joined in pinned small pieces of monks' robes on to their clothing, some of them weeping, and turnout estimates range from 50,000 to 100,000. | Civilians who joined in pinned small pieces of monks' robes on to their clothing, some of them weeping, and turnout estimates range from 50,000 to 100,000. |
| They included officials from the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. | They included officials from the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. |
| Two well-known actors, comedian Zargana and film star Kyaw Thu, encouraged the Rangoon marchers early in the day by going to the golden Shwedagon Pagoda to offer them food and water. | Two well-known actors, comedian Zargana and film star Kyaw Thu, encouraged the Rangoon marchers early in the day by going to the golden Shwedagon Pagoda to offer them food and water. |
| The BBC's South-East Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, says it is not clear why the generals are so far exercising such restraint. | The BBC's South-East Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, says it is not clear why the generals are so far exercising such restraint. |
| One suggestion is that China, Burma's most important trading partner, is urging the generals to be cautious. | One suggestion is that China, Burma's most important trading partner, is urging the generals to be cautious. |
| However, the longer the protests go on, the greater the risk that the government loses all its authority, our correspondent adds. | However, the longer the protests go on, the greater the risk that the government loses all its authority, our correspondent adds. |
| The White House has urged Burma's rulers to show restraint and seek dialogue with "those seeking freedom". | The White House has urged Burma's rulers to show restraint and seek dialogue with "those seeking freedom". |
| UK Ambassador Mark Canning said Burma's leaders were now in uncharted territory and he expressed concern about a possible government counter-reaction. | UK Ambassador Mark Canning said Burma's leaders were now in uncharted territory and he expressed concern about a possible government counter-reaction. |
| "That... would be a disaster, although in terms of probability it, I'm afraid, ranks quite high," he told the BBC. | "That... would be a disaster, although in terms of probability it, I'm afraid, ranks quite high," he told the BBC. |
| Detained leader | Detained leader |
| On Saturday, monks marched to greet Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, but access to her home was barred on Sunday, and again on Monday. | On Saturday, monks marched to greet Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, but access to her home was barred on Sunday, and again on Monday. |
| Monks have been urging Burmese people to hold 15-minute evening prayer vigils. | Monks have been urging Burmese people to hold 15-minute evening prayer vigils. |
| The organisation that has emerged to lead the protests, the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks, has vowed to continue marches until it has "wiped the military dictatorship from the land". | The organisation that has emerged to lead the protests, the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks, has vowed to continue marches until it has "wiped the military dictatorship from the land". |
| The protests were triggered by the government's decision to double the price of fuel last month, hitting people hard in the impoverished nation. | The protests were triggered by the government's decision to double the price of fuel last month, hitting people hard in the impoverished nation. |
| Return | Return |
| Are you in Burma? Have you witnessed the protests? What is the mood like in the country? Send us your comments and experiences. | Are you in Burma? Have you witnessed the protests? What is the mood like in the country? Send us your comments and experiences. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +447725100100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +447725100100. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |