Myanmar anti-junta protests biggest in 20 years

By Aung Hla Tun

YANGON (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people joined Buddhist monks on marches in Myanmar's former capital on Monday in the biggest demonstration against the ruling generals since they crushed student-led protests nearly 20 years ago.

"I'm very excited and frankly I'm worried too," a teacher said as she watched the massed opposition in Yangon to 45 years of army rule that has impoverished the Southeast Asian nation of 53 million people.

A senior U.S. official said President George W. Bush would announce new sanctions against Myanmar's rulers and call for support for political change in the country formerly known as Burma during a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday.

The European Union urged Myanmar's military junta to show the "utmost restraint" in dealing with the demonstrations.

"We hope that the regime will use this opportunity to launch a process of real political reform," said Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Protests were reported elsewhere in Myanmar, with residents of Sittwe saying it seemed the entire northwestern coastal town of more than 100,000 people was marching with the monks.

"I've never seen such a big crowd in my life," one said.

In Mandalay, 10,000 monks and people took to the streets. A demonstration also took place in Bago, just north of Yangon.

There were no signs of trouble but rumors of an imminent crackdown swirled. The junta, which had been silent since the monks' protests began six days ago, threatened them with legal action.

State radio quoted the minister for religious affairs, Brigadier General Thura Myint Maung, as telling senior members of the State Monks Council that the protests were incited by "destructive elements who do not want to see peace, stability and progress in the country."

LOCKING ARMS

Five columns of maroon-robed monks, one stretching more than a kilometer (nearly a mile), marched from Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda, the devoutly Buddhist country's holiest shrine, to the city center amid thousands of supporters.

"People locked arms around the monks. They were clapping and cheering," a witness said.

Some monks carried placards calling for "Better Living Conditions" and the "Release of Political Prisoners." Another banner said: "May The Peoples' Desire Be Fulfilled."

After holding prayers at the Sule Pagoda in the business district, a crowd estimated at up to 100,000 marched to another pagoda and dispersed peacefully.