Global demos against Burma regime

Campaigners in Britain have joined in an international day of action to protest at the military crackdown in Burma.

Buddist Monks lead a march from the Tate Britain gallery in central London to a rally in Trafalgar Square, while a global day of demonstrations were held in Sydney.

The protests came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised to maintain pressure on world leaders and the United Nations to support the country.

He also repeated his commitment to secure tougher EU sanctions against the Rangoon regime and his support for the UN in its attempts to achieve peace and reconciliation.

He said: "We will not forget the Burmese people and their suffering or forget that the whole community must act as one to support these people in order to see reconciliation and democracy."

He also announced an extra £1 million of funding would be provided for humanitarian aid on top of the £40 million the British Government has already pledged.

The US has already warned that it will push for UN sanctions against Burma if it fails to respond to the world's demand for democratic reforms.

The Burmese government claims only ten people have been killed and 2,100 detained after the demonstrations, which have been the largest anti-government protests in 19 years.

But Amnesty International believes the death toll is far higher, and dissident groups put it at more than 200 with almost 6,000 detainees.

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