Soldiers in Myanmar on Friday swiftly broke up street gatherings of die-hard activists, occupying key Buddhist monasteries and cutting public access to the internet. The moves raised concerns that a crackdown on civilians that has killed at least 10 people this week was set to intensify.

Troops fired warning shots in the air and hit protestors with clubs to break up a demonstration by about 2,000 people, witnesses said. Five of the protestors were seen being dragged into a truck and driven away. The clash in an area near the Sule Pagoda was the most serious of the several sporadic — though smaller — protests that were reported in Myanmar’s biggest city.

4 monks held

By sealing Buddhist monasteries, the government seemed intent on clearing the streets of monks, who have spearheaded the demonstrations and are revered by most of their Myanmar countrymen.

Four Buddhist monks were arrested in a raid on a monastery outside Myanmar’s main city on Friday, triggering skirmishes between their supporters and security forces, witnesses said. The raid was the latest in a series which have succeeded in preventing the monks from taking part in anti-government rallies that they have led for nearly two weeks, leaving them largely confined to their monasteries.

Emergency session

Meanwhile, The UN Human Rights Council will hold an emergency session to examine the Myanmar government attempt to crush demonstrations.

The crackdown on opposition marches led by Buddhist monks has drawn condemnation from Myanmar’s neighbours and Western powers, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has dispatched a special envoy to the Southeast Asian nation to seek a solution to the crisis.

BUSH CALLS TO HELP END ROW

The chorus among world leaders that India and China help in defusing the escalating crisis in Myanmar grew loud with US President George W Bush saying that countries having influence with the military regime tell its leaders to halt the crackdown on protesters.

“I call on all nations that have influence with the regime to join us in supporting the aspirations of the Burmese people and to tell the Burmese Junta to cease using force on its own people, who are peacefully expressing their desire for change,” Bush said in a statement.

At the White House, the spokesperson was asked if Bush was reaching out directly to countries like China and India, the two most influential neighbours of Myanmar, with a view to applying pressure on the regime in Yangon.

JUNTA LEADER FOR SALE!

Danish street artists are trying to help anti-government protesters in Myanmar by auctioning off the nation’s junta leader Than Shwe on eBay, they said on Friday.

“General for sale,” reads the ad by Jan Egesborg’s art group Surrend, with the starting bid at one million dollars, reports AP from Bangkok. “We know that former generals can be cumbersome to handle,” it says, alongside a picture of the junta chief.

“They are often very overweight after many years in power, and they always wear military outfits. That is the case with Than Shwe, whom we are offering for sale to the highest bidder,” it reads. “Due to his hot  temper, we recommend that the new owner chains him after the end of the working day,” says the ad, warning, “Be prepared for plate throwing if he hears the word ‘monk’!”