Shots fired at Burmese protests

"Burmese soldiers have again fired shots as they attempt to disperse thousands of anti-government protesters in the main city, Rangoon.

Witnesses said it was not clear whether bullets were fired into the crowd or above heads. At least one person - a Japanese man - has been killed.

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

The fresh protests follow reports of overnight raids on six monasteries.

According to witnesses soldiers smashed windows and doors and beat the sleeping monks. Some escaped but hundreds of monks were taken away in military trucks.

Two members of the National League for Democracy, the party led by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, were also arrested overnight."
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"The soldiers responded with gunfire.

"They have shot several times into the crowd," one witness told the BBC. "One person was injured... they used tear gas... Now the injured person is carried off into a car to be taken to hospital... they [the soldiers] are using force on us."

There are fewer monks on the streets - since so many were arrested - and there are large numbers of ordinary people instead..."
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