Security forces in Myanmar fired automatic weapons into thousands of pro-democracy protestors for a second day Thursday, killing nine and wounding 11.
Tens of thousands defied the military crackdown with a tenth straight day of demonstrations in the country's largest city, Yangon. Security forces also reportedly raided several monasteries overnight, beating monks and arresting more than 100.
The protests are the stiffest challenge to the generals in 20 years. The crisis began August 19 with protests over a fuel price hike, but expanded dramatically into mass pro-democracy demonstrations when monks started leading the marches.
Some reports said the dead included Buddhist monks, who are widely revered in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The emergence of such martyrs could stoke public anger against the government. Thirty-one government troops were also injured.
Witnesses said an estimated 70,000 people gathered in the streets Thursday, but there were only a handful of monks in the crowd, compared with previous days when thousands marched.
Demonstrators gather to protest outside the Myanmar Embassy in central London, September 27, 2007. (Photo Courtesy Getty Images/AFP/Shaun Curry)