unrest spreads in Burma

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Buddhist unrest spreads in Burma

Rangoon March 21,Demonstration by Buddhist monks have spread from 
Mandalay to 4 more Burmese cities, a diplomatic source said on friday. 
Acurfew was imposed in Moulmein in Tenasserim division, while protests by 
monks were also reported this week in Pyinmana, Taungoo and Prome, the 
source said.
In Mandalay, the scene of angry anti-Muslim protests which began last 
weekend and has left at least one monk death, monks were threatening to 
return to the streets unless one monk arrested by authorities was 
released. Residents said monks were demanding his release by Sunday.
No further details about the arrested monk were available. It was not 
known whether others had been detained by authorities. Monks vandalished 
mosques and attacked Muslim-owned property including cars in Mandalay, in 
apparent retribution for the attempted rape of a Buddhist girl. It was 
not immediately clear whether the protests reported in the 4 other cities 
were anti-Muslim.
At least one monk died of gunshot wounds in the Mandalay unrest, amid a 
heavy security presence in the city, a deplomat reported from the 
northern city on Thursday. The state-run media made no mention of the 
unrest, although a military intelligence source confirmed that a curfew 
had been imposed in Mandalay. An informed source said on Wesdnesday that 
Burmese authorities had ordered a "first degree security alart".

The Asian Age. (Indian News Paper)