The Burmese military authorities say they will destroy any attempts by the opposition to stage demonstrations or other protests to mark the anniversary later this week of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising.

State controlled newspapers accuse the opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, of trying to instigate unrest, one paper saying that any threat to the state would be annihilated.

While continuing to maintain an iron grip over the country, Burma's military government is plainly concerned at the possibility of serious unrest during the politically tense weeks that lie ahead.

This Saturday marks the 10th anniversary of the 1988 student uprising which the army put down amid extensive bloodshed.

The state-run media accuses Miss Suu Kyi of working with foreign powers in an attempt to destabilise the country, both to commemorate the uprising and to press her demand for the convening later this month of the Burmese Parliament chosen in elections in 1990.

Those elections, won convincingly by Miss Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, were subsequently ignored by the military.

Armed troops

Security has been tightened around the capital, with heavily armed troops posted on major road intersections.

Much depends on the stamina and ingenuity of Miss Suu Kyi herself in maintaining the heightened state of tension and the pressure on the regime.

For now, the 53-year-old opposition leader is recovering from dehydration and a fever brought on by her gruelling six-day stand-off with the authorities on a road outside Rangoon, which ended last Wednesday when soldiers forcibly returned her to her home in the capital.

She has pledged to make further attempts to meet her supporters around the country, but the army now seems most unlikely to allow that.