Pressure to avert Burma bloodshed

Last Modified: 25 Sep 2007
By: Channel 4 News

Despite the warnings they have taken to the streets again.

Several thousand monks, nuns and civilians are protesting this morning in defiance of the military.

Eyewitnesses have reported loud speakers on army vehicles warning that crowds may be dispersed by force.

Yesterday there were protests in 25 towns, with tens of thousands of people marching in Rangoon.

After those scenes the military Junta finally broke its silence.

State television didn't show pictures of the protests, instead denouncing the demonstrators over pictures of monks meeting a government minister.

This morning there were warnings to monks not to get involved in politics, and talking of the dangers of being manipulated by foreign media.

The concern now is that following these warnings, authorities will feel pressure to act if they are ignored.

There are reports of an emergency meeting being held in the country's new capital, and troops used to suppress the 1988 protests are moving from the Thai border towards Rangoon.

The United States has appealed for a peaceful outcome.

In Washington President Bush is expected to announce further sanctions against Burma in a speech at the UN.

There's speculation China may also be putting on Burmese leaders to avoid bloodshed in the region.

The worry is that as the Burmese regimes warnings are ignored - it may feel compelled to act rather to avoid a humiliating loss of authority.