Three dead as Burma protesters defy ban

Updated 23.30 Wed Sep 26 2007

Keywords: Burma, Myanmar

At least three people have died as riot police fired warning shots and baton-charged participants in the biggest Burmese protests for years.

Two monks and a civilian reportedly died as years of pent-up frustration at 45 years of unbroken military rule in the country produced the largest crowds yet during a month of demonstrations.

"The whole world is now watching Burma" - Prime Minister Gordon Brown

A march towards the centre of the former capital Rangoon followed a tense confrontation at the city's famed Shwedagon Pagoda after gatherings of five people or more were banned and a 60-day 9pm-5am curfew imposed.

About 5,000 monks and 5,000 students along with members of the party headed by detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi set off from Shwedagon to the Sule Pagoda but were blocked by military trucks along the route.

Dissidents said around 300 Buddhist monks and activists were arrested and bundled into awaiting trucks. Other reports claimed the death toll is higher from the confrontations.

The United Nations Security Council is meeting later in New York to discuss the crisis. Earlier, Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for a UN envoy to be sent to the country.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, Mr Brown warned Burma's generals, saying: "The whole world is now watching."

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Miliband again urged restraint in the handling of the protesters, warning that Burmese officials will be held accountable for their behaviour.

Speaking to reporters before flying to the UN, Mr Miliband revealed that marching monks in Rangoon, turned to applaud as they passed the British Embassy.

He said: "It is very important that we maintain this unanimous international call for restraint...restraint must remain the order of the day."

He added that no contact has been made with Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest but was seen for the first time in four years during demonstrations at the weekend.

In 1988 about 3,000 people were killed when a popular uprising was brutally put down by the regime.