BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Anti-junta rallies in Burma

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Monday, 24 September 2007, 15:01 GMT 16:01 UK

In pictures: Anti-junta rallies in Burma

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Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters led by Buddhist monks have rallied in Burma's main city of Rangoon.

Monks and civilians sit at the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon

Monks and civilians sit at the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon

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The peaceful rally was launched from the golden Shwedagon Pagoda, and many civilians soon joined in.

A Buddhist monk speaks in Rangoon

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Demands ranged from calls for the military government to step down to requests for negotiations and economic reforms.

National League for Democracy (NLD) members take part in a protest

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Among those who joined in were members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

Protest in Rangoon

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Columns of protesters stretched for about a mile (1.6km), some participants said.

Monks march in Rangoon

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They said as many as 100,000 people marched, making it the biggest protest in the past several days. Rallies were also reportedly held in other cities.

Crowds in Rangoon

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Security forces were not in evidence for most of the march in Rangoon, but Burma's military junta later warned it was ready to "take action" against protesters.

Buddhist monks, accompanied by civilians, protest on 23 September 2007

Buddhist monks, accompanied by civilians, protest on 23 September 2007

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Monks are revered in Burma, but there are fears of a repeat of 1988, when a pro-democracy uprising was brutally crushed by the army.

Police guard Aung San Suu Kyi (left in the background)

Police guard Aung San Suu Kyi (left in the background)

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On Saturday, protesters greeted pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under a house arrest, but police blocked access to her house on Sunday and Monday.

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Related to this story:
Monks lead largest Burma protest (24 Sep 07 | Asia-Pacific )