Shots Fired at Burma Protest

Buddhist monks and pro-democracy activists clashed with riot police today as they continued their protest in defiance of the Myanmar regime's ban on public assembly. Police in Yangon fired warning shots and tear gas, chased and beat monks, dragged protesters into waiting trucks, and beat their shields with batons while shouting orders to disperse, CNN reports.  

Thousands of demonstrators marched onward to the center of Yangon after the confrontation with police. Meanwhile, one prominent anti-government activist was taken from his home by authorities. The escalating tensions come after the announcement yesterday by President Bush of new US sanctions against Myanmar. The European Union has also threatened stronger sanctions if the military regime violently suppresses the demonstrations. (More Myanmar stories.)