Nine killed in Myanmar crackdown

At least nine people were reportedly killed in a crackdown on anti-government protesters, most of them Buddhist monks, in Rangoon today in a bid to disperse them during a protest.

New Delhi, Sept 27 : At least nine people were reportedly killed in a crackdown on anti-government protesters, most of them Buddhist monks, in Rangoon today in a bid to disperse them during a protest.

The dead included eight protesters and a Japanese man identified by Japan's APF News as a video journalist, reported the BBC.

Eleven demonstrators and 31 soldiers were injured, the BBC said quoting state media reports.

Security forces on Thursday had to fire warning shots, the state television report said.

Witnesses in Rangoon were quoted as saying that the shots were fired at the crowd.

Hundreds have been arrested.

The military is reportedly broadcasting warnings that the protesters should go home or face "serious action".

The fresh protests follow reports of overnight raids on six monasteries in which monks were beaten and arrested.

On the streets, thousands of protesters have been singing nationalist songs and hurling abuse at the soldiers driving by in trucks.

On Wednesday, five people were reported to have been killed when police broke up protests by monks and civilians. The military government has confirmed one death.

About 200 Buddhist monks were reported to have been detained during raids on two monasteries in Rangoon.

Two members of the National League for Democracy, the party led by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, were also arrested overnight. There were also reports of raids in the north-east of the country.

In Rangoon, security forces have set up barbed wire barricades around Shwedagon Pagoda and Rangoon city hall, two of the focal points for the demonstrations.

Britain's Ambassador in Rangoon, Mark Canning, said soldiers and police had stepped up their presence.

"There are fire trucks, water canons positioned in a number of places - there are about three of them outside city hall. There are a number of prison vans also to be seen in certain places."

Leaflets have been circulated throughout Rangoon urging people to come out and show solidarity with the monks.

There are no indications yet that the military government is ready to listen to the many calls for restraint being made around the world.

On Wednesday, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting in New York and called on the military junta to show restraint - a call also made by China on Thursday.

The US and European Union wanted the council to consider imposing sanctions - but that was rejected by China as not "helpful".

Instead, Council members "expressed their concern vis-a-vis the situation, and have urged restraint, especially from the Government of Myanmar," said France's UN ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert.

They welcomed a plan to send UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to the region, and called on the Burmese authorities to receive him "as soon as possible".

China and Russia have argued the situation in Burma is a purely internal matter. Both vetoed a UN resolution critical of Burma's rulers in January.

Analysts fear a repeat of the violence in 1988, when troops opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing thousands.

ANI