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.

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.

A lone man who staged a protest in Burma’s main city of Rangoon was detained by police today as pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked her 61st birthday, alone and under house arrest by the military government.