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Warning broadcast across Rangoon Army broadcasts Rangoon warning
(40 minutes later)
Lorries equipped with loudspeakers have been seen driving through the streets of Burma's main city Rangoon warning residents not to join growing protests. Lorries with loudspeakers have been driving through Burma's main city of Rangoon warning residents to stop anti-government protests.
"People are not to follow, encourage or take part in these marches. Action will be taken against those who violate this order," the broadcast said. The broadcasts threatened that "action will be taken against those who violate this order".
But the monks leading the protests have vowed to continue despite the threats. But hundreds of monks and civilians defied the threats and began fresh protests at the Shwedagon pagoda.
Monday saw anti-government marches in at least 25 towns and cities, with tens of thousands of protesters in Rangoon. On Monday, there were protests in at least 25 towns, with tens of thousands of people marching in Rangoon.
Several military trucks are now parked near Shwedagon pagoda, which has been the focus of the protests.
Eyewitnesses said several hundred monks gathered at Shwedagon with the apparent intention of marching again.
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says monks - who have been spearheading the protest campaign - have been handing out pictures of Burmese independence hero Aung San, the deceased father of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
They are also carrying flags, including some bearing the image of a fighting peacock used by students during the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, witnesses told Reuters news agency.
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 In pictures: Protests Q&A: Protests in Burma Send us your comments
The junta, which violently repressed the 1988 protests killing some 3,000 people, finally broke its silence over the mounting protests, saying late on Monday that it was ready to "take action" against the monks.
It repeated its warning in state media on Tuesday, ordering monks not to get involved in politics and accusing them of allowing themselves to be manipulated by the foreign media.
US President George W Bush is to announce further sanctions against Burma's ruling military junta in response to the protests, the White House has said.US President George W Bush is to announce further sanctions against Burma's ruling military junta in response to the protests, the White House has said.
Mr Bush is expected to announce the new restrictions during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Washington is hoping it will encourage other nations to act and embolden the protesters on Burma's streets, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington.Mr Bush is expected to announce the new restrictions during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Washington is hoping it will encourage other nations to act and embolden the protesters on Burma's streets, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington.
The move comes after eight days of increasingly popular protests against the junta led by Buddhist monks.
The junta, which violently repressed protests in 1988, said late on Monday that it was ready to "take action" against the monks.
It repeated its warning in state media on Tuesday, ordering monks not to get involved in politics and accusing them of allowing themselves to be manipulated by the foreign media.
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 In pictures: Protests Q&A: Protests in Burma Send us your comments
It blamed the protests on "destructive elements" opposed to peace in Burma.
The military government has so far showed restraint against the protests.
Monks are highly revered in Burma and correspondents say any move by the junta to crush their demonstrations would spark an outcry.
But there are fears of a repeat of 1988, correspondents say, when the last democracy uprising was crushed by the military and some 3,000 people were killed.
Some monks' representatives had called for the entire country to join them in their campaign to overthrow the government, which began eight days ago.
State television said the demonstrations of the past week were being fomented by communists and exiled media and student groups.
The authorities are likely to be under huge pressure from their close neighbour China to avoid bloodshed and instability, the BBC's Asia correspondent, Andrew Harding notes.The authorities are likely to be under huge pressure from their close neighbour China to avoid bloodshed and instability, the BBC's Asia correspondent, Andrew Harding notes.
The European Union has urged the junta to show the "utmost restraint" in dealing with the protests and to take the opportunity to "launch a process of real political reform". The European Union has also urged the junta to show the "utmost restraint" in dealing with the protests and to take the opportunity to "launch a process of real political reform".
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has given his backing to the monks' call for freedom and democracy.The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has given his backing to the monks' call for freedom and democracy.
Detained leaderDetained leader
A group of more than 1,000 of the maroon-robed monks and 400 sympathisers went to Aung San Suu Kyi's street at the end of Monday's march, the Associated Press reported.A group of more than 1,000 of the maroon-robed monks and 400 sympathisers went to Aung San Suu Kyi's street at the end of Monday's march, the Associated Press reported.
They chanted a prayer for peace in the face of the riot police blocking access to her home, where she is under house arrest, before dispersing peacefully.They chanted a prayer for peace in the face of the riot police blocking access to her home, where she is under house arrest, before dispersing peacefully.
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.
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.
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