Burma’s military rulers tightened security in Yangon today as officials gathered to commemorate the death, 62 years ago, of the father of jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Hundreds of riot police and soldiers ringed a monument in central Rangoon today as officials gathered to commemorate the shooting death 61 years ago of Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s father.

Burmese authorities detained five opposition party members who called for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she marked her 63rd birthday under house arrest, witnesses said.

Burma’s military rulers celebrated its 60th anniversary of independence from Britain today with a simple flag-hoisting ceremony and a call for more discipline in the country.

A UN human rights envoy who has returned to Burma after a four-year ban spoke to officials today about plans to visit prisons.

At least 70 people held by Burma’s military government following the huge street protests, including 50 members of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, have been released, it was announced today.

Burma’s military authorities arrested dissidents in raids today even as they responded to international pressure with apparent moves toward talks with their archenemy, democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, an exile group said.

Burmese troops today began hunting down anti-government protesters in house-to-house searches across Rangoon.

David Miliband has called on Burma’s military junta to allow peaceful protests on the streets of Rangoon.

Soldiers in Burma opened fire on thousands of anti-government protesters today, killing at least nine people and injuring 11.

Burmese security forces raided two Buddhist monasteries this morning, beating up and hauling away more than 70 monks after a day of violent confrontation, sources said.

Up to five people were feared dead tonight after Burma’s ruthless military government ordered troops to open fire on crowds of demonstrators.

Burma’s anti-government protests turned ugly today with troops firing warning shots and tear gas into crowds of demonstrators.

Troops in Rangoon have attacked Buddhist monks who defied the Burmese military government’s ban on public assembly today with tear gas, dragging some into trucks and driving them away.

Police in riot gear fired warning shots to disperse more than 100 Buddhist monks who defied the Burmese military government’s ban on public assembly today by trying to penetrate a barricade blocking Rangoon’s famed Shwedagon Pagoda.

Militant Buddhist monks defied the Burma military government’s ban on public assembly today when more than 50 of them gathered near a gate to Yangon’s famed Shwedagon Pagoda as armed troops sealed its perimeter.

SOLDIERS, including an army division that took part in the brutal suppression of a 1988 uprising, converged on Burma’s largest city after thousands of monks and sympathisers defied government orders to stay out of politics and protested once again yesterday.

Buddhist monks spearheading Burma's biggest anti-government marches in nearly two decades defied orders from the military junta to stay out of politics and relaunched their protests in the country's two biggest cities today.

Monks leading the biggest public protest staged in Burma for nearly 20 years were today warned of a government crackdown.

An estimated 100,000 people joined Buddhist monks today in the biggest public protest to hit Burma's streets for decades.

Buddhist nuns swelled the forces of anti-government protesters in Burma as up to 20,000 people took to the streets.

About 3,000 Buddhist monks demonstrated against the military junta in Burma's largest city today, cheered on by as many as 5,000 onlookers chanting religions slogans and support for detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, witnesses said.

The wave of anti-government demonstrations sweeping Burma touched the doorstep of the country's democracy heroine Aung San Suu Kyi today, as Buddhist monks allowed to march past her home today said they were greeted by the detained political leader.

About 10,000 Buddhist monks marched through Burma’s central city of Mandalay today, witnesses said, as a month-long protest against the country’s military government picked up new steam.

Hundreds of Buddhist monks protested today outside the locked gates of Burma’s most revered temple, challenging the country’s military rulers in the most sustained wave of demonstrations in a decade.

More than 400 Buddhist monks today marched in Burma’s largest city, witnesses said, as part of a growing wave of anti-government protests that have rocked the country the past month.

WORLDWIDE celebrations to mark the 60th birthday of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi kicked off yesterday, with supporters releasing doves and holding a modest religious ceremony in the Burmese capital, Yangon.

Burma’s state press today blacked out the news of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s release from house arrest, hailed by world leaders as a first step towards restoring democracy after years of military rule.