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Burma protesters defy crackdown Burma protesters defy crackdown
(10 minutes later)
Up to 10,000 Burmese Buddhist monks and civilians have defied police tear gas and baton charges to continue protests in Rangoon against the military rulers.Up to 10,000 Burmese Buddhist monks and civilians have defied police tear gas and baton charges to continue protests in Rangoon against the military rulers.
At least one monk was reportedly killed and witnesses spoke of monks' shaved heads stained with blood at the Shwedagon pagoda as police charged.At least one monk was reportedly killed and witnesses spoke of monks' shaved heads stained with blood at the Shwedagon pagoda as police charged.
Security forces reportedly surrounded six monasteries to prevent more monks joining the ninth day of protests.Security forces reportedly surrounded six monasteries to prevent more monks joining the ninth day of protests.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has called emergency talks for 1900GMT.Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has called emergency talks for 1900GMT.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called the talks vowing "no impunity" for human rights violators.UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called the talks vowing "no impunity" for human rights violators.
This is a battle of wills between Burma's two most powerful institutions, the military and the monk-hood, and the outcome is still unclear, the BBC's South East Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, says.
Analysts fear a repeat of the violence in 1988, when troops opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing thousands.
'Entirely peaceful''Entirely peaceful'
The monks were beaten with rifle butts. Taxi drivers transported the injured to nearby medical facilities, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity. On Wednesday, the monks were beaten with rifle butts. Taxi drivers transported the injured to nearby medical facilities, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Hospital sources in Rangoon told the BBC that at least one monk had been killed and that two others were in intensive care.
Key locations of Rangoon democracy protestsEnlarge MapKey locations of Rangoon democracy protestsEnlarge Map
Hospital sources in Rangoon told the BBC that at least one monk had been killed and that two others were in intensive care.
Other reports said two - or three - monks had been killed.Other reports said two - or three - monks had been killed.
This is a battle of wills between Burma's two most powerful institutions, the military and the monk-hood, and the outcome is still unclear, the BBC's South East Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, says.
The British ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, told the BBC that people had shown their determination to demonstrate, despite a number of them being severely beaten.The British ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, told the BBC that people had shown their determination to demonstrate, despite a number of them being severely beaten.
He said at one point there were almost 10,000 people outside the embassy.He said at one point there were almost 10,000 people outside the embassy.
"There was a nucleus of perhaps 1,000 monks with probably 8,000 or 9,000 civilians - many women, many students."There was a nucleus of perhaps 1,000 monks with probably 8,000 or 9,000 civilians - many women, many students.
The junta are using dirty tactics - they don't fire guns but beat people with rifle butts. The monks defiantly did not fight back BBC News website reader Accounts from Burma href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7014173.stm">Burma's saffron army In quotes: Global reaction The junta are using dirty tactics - they don't fire guns but beat people with rifle butts. BBC News website reader Accounts from Burma href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7013852.stm">In pictures: Mood darkens In quotes: Global reaction
"They have marched in big columns throughout various areas of the city. They were entirely peaceful," he said."They have marched in big columns throughout various areas of the city. They were entirely peaceful," he said.
A statement read out on Burmese television said the authorities were handling the situation "most softly to avoid incidents desired by destructive elements while protecting the people".A statement read out on Burmese television said the authorities were handling the situation "most softly to avoid incidents desired by destructive elements while protecting the people".
Large demonstrations also took place in the cities of Mandalay and Sitwei, but the security forces there reportedly did little to prevent them.Large demonstrations also took place in the cities of Mandalay and Sitwei, but the security forces there reportedly did little to prevent them.
Analysts fear a repeat of the violence in 1988, when troops opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing thousands.
'Human shield''Human shield'
A clampdown on the media by Burma's military government, which has banned gatherings of five people or more and imposed a night-time curfew, has made following the exact course of the protests difficult.A clampdown on the media by Burma's military government, which has banned gatherings of five people or more and imposed a night-time curfew, has made following the exact course of the protests difficult.
It is known that thousands of monks and opposition activists moved away from Shwedagon pagoda, heading for Sule pagoda in the city centre.It is known that thousands of monks and opposition activists moved away from Shwedagon pagoda, heading for Sule pagoda in the city centre.
href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7013852.stm">In pictures: Mood darkens class="" href="/1/hi/business/7012367.stm">Burma tops corruption list class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7014702.stm">How will the junta respond? How will the junta respond? class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7014173.stm">Burma's saffron army
Some marchers started for the city centre while others headed for the home of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest. Some marchers started for the city centre while others headed for the home of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Reports suggested they were prevented from reaching it but other demonstrators did gather at Sule to jeer soldiers.Reports suggested they were prevented from reaching it but other demonstrators did gather at Sule to jeer soldiers.
Troops responded by firing tear gas and live rounds over the protesters' heads, sending people running for cover.Troops responded by firing tear gas and live rounds over the protesters' heads, sending people running for cover.
Monks marching to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi reportedly urged civilians not to join them and not to resort to violence.Monks marching to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi reportedly urged civilians not to join them and not to resort to violence.
But elsewhere witnesses said civilians were shielding the marching monks by forming a human chain around them.But elsewhere witnesses said civilians were shielding the marching monks by forming a human chain around them.
At Shwedagon pagoda, riot police charged against the protesters, leaving a number of monks and nuns covered in blood, some of them apparently seriously injured.
British embassy sources said at least 100 monks were beaten and arrested. Demonstrators were dragged away in trucks.British embassy sources said at least 100 monks were beaten and arrested. Demonstrators were dragged away in trucks.
One BBC News website reader said: "The junta are using dirty tactics - they don't fire guns but beat people with rifle butts. The monks defiantly did not fight back."One BBC News website reader said: "The junta are using dirty tactics - they don't fire guns but beat people with rifle butts. The monks defiantly did not fight back."
Another reader said armed and plainclothes police could be seen at key sites across the city. At City Hall, police were holding photos of the monks leading the protests.
Two prominent dissidents, U Win Naing and popular comedian Zaganar, were arrested overnight.
'Different situation'
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.
Aung Naing Oo, a former student leader who was involved in the 1988 uprising and who now lives in exile in the UK, said the junta could not stop the protesters.
"[Then] there was only very little information about the killings. Now with the internet and the whole world watching I think it's a totally different story... monks are highly revered in the country."
US President George W Bush has announced a tightening of US economic sanctions against Burma.US President George W Bush has announced a tightening of US economic sanctions against Burma.
The US already has an arms ban on Burma, a ban on all exports, a ban on new investment and a ban on financial services.
Are you in Burma? How have you been affected by the current situation? What is the mood like in the country? Send us your comments and experiences.Are you in Burma? How have you been affected by the current situation? What is the mood like in the country? Send us your comments and experiences.
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