Automatic Weapons Fired Into Crowds In Burma

Soldiers have fired automatic weapons into crowds of protesters in Burma. The number of dead is unknown at this time.

YANGON, Myanmar – Soldiers fired automatic weapons into a crowd of anti-government protesters Thursday as tens of thousands defied the ruling military junta's crackdown with a 10th straight day of demonstrations.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry official told The Associated Press that several people, including a Japanese national, were found dead following Thursday's protests.

The information was transmitted by Myanmar's Foreign Ministry to the Japanese Embassy in Yangon, the official said on condition of anonymity citing protocol.

The chaos came a day after the government launched a crackdown in Yangon that it said killed at least one man. Dissidents outside Myanmar reported receiving news of up to eight deaths Wednesday.

Some reports said the dead included Buddhist monks, who are widely revered in Myanmar, and the emergence of such martyrs could stoke public anger against the regime and escalate the violence.

Agam has video.

UPDATE: Jon Swift on the silence of the libs:

I have been very worried about what might happen if a Democrat is elected President and he or she starts listening to liberal bloggers about foreign policy. I thought liberal bloggers believed the United States was self-absorbed and arrogant and they want to change the perception of our country in the rest of the world. But the reaction to what is happening in Burma leads me to believe that maybe they don't want to change so much after all and that's a big relief.

UPDATE: CNN is reporting that the military junta is reporting nine dead. Want to bet it's higher?

Other Links to this Post

1. » Violence in Myanmar: Buddhist monks beaten, arrestedPinOy SPY! » Blog Archive — September 27, 2007 @ 7:27 am