Myanmar protesters beaten by police
{{date|September 26, 2007}}
[[Image:2007 Myanmar protests 12.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Monks protest in Myanmar, September 24, 2007. {{Image source|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/17158481@N00/1437376279/ racoles]}}]]
[[Myanmar]] police have beaten up to 700 protesters with batons, according to witnesses. The crowd was gathered near a pagoda in [[w:Rangoon|Rangoon]], and included students and [[w:Buddhism|Buddhist]] monks. AFP reported that only monks were allowed to enter the pagoda, and Reuters has quoted witnesses as saying that tear gas was used to disperse the monks. 

Some monks were taken away by police in trucks. This is the first time that Myanmar security forces have used violence against the protests, which are now in their ninth day. 
[[Image:LocationMyanmar.png|thumb|left|180px|Location of Myanmar]]
Myanmar authorities have imposed a curfew from dusk until dawn, and have also banned public gatherings of more than five people. Troops and riot police have begun taking positions near monasteries, opposition party headquarters, and the house of pro-democracy activist [[w:Aung San Suu Kyi|Aung San Suu Kyi]]. 

Comedian [[w:Zaganar|Zaganar]] was arrested at his home overnight. He has previously spoken publicly in support of the protests. 

The [[Australia]]n Minister for Foreign Affairs, [[w:Alexander Downer|Alexander Downer]], announced earlier today that the Australian government is following events in Myanmar closely, and urged the Myanmar government to show restraint. He also called for the respect of "the legitimate right of Myanmar citizens to peaceful protest."

{{haveyoursay}}
==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Australian government declares support for Burmese protests|date=September 26, 2007}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/burma-protesters-beaten/2007/09/26/1190486379045.html
|title=Burma protesters 'beaten'
|author=Agencies
|pub=Sydney Morning Herald
|date=September 26, 2007
}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22485664-23109,00.html
|title=Troops, riot police converge on Burma rally
|author=
|pub=Herald Sun
|date=September 26, 2007
}}
*{{source|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22485861-601,00.html
|title=Tear gas used on Burmese monks
|author=
|pub=The Australian
|date=September 26, 2007
}}
*{{source-pr|url=http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2007/fa124_07.html
|title=Protests in Burma
|pub=Minister For Foreign Affairs, Australia
|date=September 25, 2007}}

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{{archived}}

[[category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[category:Myanmar]]
[[category:Asia]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Aung San Suu Kyi]]

[[de:Eskalation der Gewalt in Myanmar]]
[[es:Se impone toque de queda en Birmania]]
[[fr:La police réprime brutalement les manifestations au Myanmar]]
[[it:Myanmar: cominciano gli scontri a Yangon]]
[[pl:Birmańscy żołnierze otworzyli ogień do protestujących]]
[[zh:緬甸反軍政府示威活動，已有兩百人遭逮捕]]
Monks protest in Myanmar, September 24, 2007. 
Myanmar police have beaten up to 700 protesters with batons, according to witnesses. The crowd was gathered near a pagoda in Rangoon, and included students and Buddhist monks. AFP reported that only monks were allowed to enter the pagoda, and Reuters has quoted witnesses as saying that tear gas was used to disperse the monks. 

Some monks were taken away by police in trucks. This is the first time that Myanmar security forces have used violence against the protests, which are now in their ninth day. 
Location of Myanmar
Myanmar authorities have imposed a curfew from dusk until dawn, and have also banned public gatherings of more than five people. Troops and riot police have begun taking positions near monasteries, opposition party headquarters, and the house of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi. 

Comedian Zaganar was arrested at his home overnight. He has previously spoken publicly in support of the protests. 

The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, announced earlier today that the Australian government is following events in Myanmar closely, and urged the Myanmar government to show restraint. He also called for the respect of "the legitimate right of Myanmar citizens to peaceful protest."

category:Politics and conflicts
category:Myanmar
category:Asia

de:Eskalation der Gewalt in Myanmar
es:Se impone toque de queda en Birmania
fr:La police réprime brutalement les manifestations au Myanmar
it:Myanmar: cominciano gli scontri a Yangon
Australia Aung San Suu Kyi