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| Burma lifts curfew in main cities | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Burma's military regime has lifted a curfew in the two main cities, imposed last month amid pro-democracy protests led by the country's monks. | |
| The decision was announced in Rangoon, the country's main commercial city, over loudspeakers mounted on military vehicles driving around the streets. | The decision was announced in Rangoon, the country's main commercial city, over loudspeakers mounted on military vehicles driving around the streets. |
| A curfew was also lifted in Mandalay, in an apparent return to normal life. | A curfew was also lifted in Mandalay, in an apparent return to normal life. |
| Authorities have released a number of prominent detainees - but diplomats say thousands remain locked up. | Authorities have released a number of prominent detainees - but diplomats say thousands remain locked up. |
| The whereabouts of thousands of monks who took part in the protests in September are unknown. | The whereabouts of thousands of monks who took part in the protests in September are unknown. |
| 'Happy' | 'Happy' |
| "I'm happy that the curfew was lifted. It was really affecting businesses and people's moods," a Rangoon resident in his early 30s told AFP news agency. | "I'm happy that the curfew was lifted. It was really affecting businesses and people's moods," a Rangoon resident in his early 30s told AFP news agency. |
| It was unclear whether a government ban on assemblies of more than five people had also been lifted. | It was unclear whether a government ban on assemblies of more than five people had also been lifted. |
| Burma's ruling generals appear to be confident that they have regained control of the cities, and that there won't be a resumption of the massive street protests, says the BBC's Chris Xia. | Burma's ruling generals appear to be confident that they have regained control of the cities, and that there won't be a resumption of the massive street protests, says the BBC's Chris Xia. |
| It will also be seen as a signal to the outside world that concerns over human rights abuses are misplaced, and that life is returning to normal. | It will also be seen as a signal to the outside world that concerns over human rights abuses are misplaced, and that life is returning to normal. |
| In Washington, the White House said the lifting of the curfew was a "bad sign" that the government now felt confident it had succeeded in repressing dissent. | In Washington, the White House said the lifting of the curfew was a "bad sign" that the government now felt confident it had succeeded in repressing dissent. |
| Press secretary Dana Perino urged Burma's ruling junta to enter talks with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. | Press secretary Dana Perino urged Burma's ruling junta to enter talks with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. |
| The junta has offered to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, but only if she renounces her support for economic sanctions on Burma. | The junta has offered to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, but only if she renounces her support for economic sanctions on Burma. |
| Fuel price | Fuel price |
| The latest wave of protests dates back to the middle of August, when the government doubled the price of fuel, which in turn pushed up food prices. | The latest wave of protests dates back to the middle of August, when the government doubled the price of fuel, which in turn pushed up food prices. |
| The demonstrations, initially led by about 400 anti-government activists, soon snowballed into the biggest protests Burma had seen in several years, as tens of thousands of monks joined in. | The demonstrations, initially led by about 400 anti-government activists, soon snowballed into the biggest protests Burma had seen in several years, as tens of thousands of monks joined in. |
| On the worst day of violence, 27 September, the junta said nine people had been killed, but the death toll is thought to be far higher. | On the worst day of violence, 27 September, the junta said nine people had been killed, but the death toll is thought to be far higher. |
| International pressure on Burma to institute democratic reforms has mounted since the protests, with the US announcing a further tightening of sanctions on Friday. | International pressure on Burma to institute democratic reforms has mounted since the protests, with the US announcing a further tightening of sanctions on Friday. |