Monks Killed in Myanmar crackdown

September 26, 2007

Author: Staff Writer

Source: THe Buddhist Channel/AlJazeera English News

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=51,4984,0,0,1,0

Up to seven people including three monks are reported to have been killed in a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in Myanmar.

Riot police used tear gas and batons to disperse tens of thousands of protesters on Wednesday, bringing swift international condemnation.

A witness in Myanmar's former capital Yangon said she had seen some monks being beaten as the authorities tried to stop protesters from gathering.

A Myanmar official told AFP news agency: "According to the information that we received, at least three monks were killed."

One monk was killed when a gun went off as he tried to wrestle the weapon away from a soldier, while two others were beaten to death, the official said.

His account was confirmed by a second official, who said the toll was based on official reports of incidents that took place around the Shwedagon Pagoda.