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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 live bullets on the ninth day of protests against the military rulers. | Up to 10,000 Burmese Buddhist monks and civilians have defied police tear gas and live bullets on the ninth day of protests against the military rulers. |
| At least one monk was killed, hospital sources in the main city of Rangoon said. The government has confirmed one death, without giving details. | At least one monk was killed, hospital sources in the main city of Rangoon said. The government has confirmed one death, without giving details. |
| Witnesses described monks with blood on their shaved heads as police charged at the Shwedagon pagoda in Rangoon. | Witnesses described monks with blood on their shaved heads as police charged at the Shwedagon pagoda in Rangoon. |
| Meanwhile, the UN said it was sending a special adviser on Burma to the region. | Meanwhile, the UN said it was sending a special adviser on Burma to the region. |
| The BBC's James Robbins says Ibrahim Gambari's mission - if he is allowed into Burma - will be to urge the regime to stop using force and to start moving towards full democracy. | The BBC's James Robbins says Ibrahim Gambari's mission - if he is allowed into Burma - will be to urge the regime to stop using force and to start moving towards full democracy. |
| Key locations of Rangoon democracy protestsEnlarge Map | Key locations of Rangoon democracy protestsEnlarge Map |
| Mr Gambari will first brief the UN Security Council at an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening. | Mr Gambari will first brief the UN Security Council at an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening. |
| Permanent members Russia and China have argued that the situation in Burma is a purely internal matter. | Permanent members Russia and China have argued that the situation in Burma is a purely internal matter. |
| The confrontation in Burma has become a battle of wills between the country's two most powerful institutions, the military and the monkhood, 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. | Analysts fear a repeat of the violence in 1988, when troops opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing thousands. |
| 'Entirely peaceful' | 'Entirely peaceful' |
| Burma's military government said one person was killed and three others injured in a crackdown by security forces in the former capital, Rangoon. | Burma's military government said one person was killed and three others injured in a crackdown by security forces in the former capital, Rangoon. |
| The statement, carried on state radio, was the first official confirmation from the authorities that the latest violence had caused casualties. | The statement, carried on state radio, was the first official confirmation from the authorities that the latest violence had caused casualties. |
| The junta are using dirty tactics - they don't fire guns but beat people with rifle butts BBC News website reader Accounts from Burma In pictures: Mood darkens In quotes: Global reaction | |
| Earlier, a hospital source in Rangoon told the BBC that the monks were beaten with rifle butts, and that taxi drivers had transported the injured to nearby medical facilities. | Earlier, a hospital source in Rangoon told the BBC that the monks were beaten with rifle butts, and that taxi drivers had transported the injured to nearby medical facilities. |
| Unconfirmed reports spoke of several dead. | Unconfirmed reports spoke of several dead. |
| 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. |
| "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. |
| '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. |
| How will the junta respond? Burma's saffron army Protests split regional media | How will the junta respond? Burma's saffron army Protests split regional media |
| Some marchers started for the city centre while others headed for the home of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. | 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. |
| 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." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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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