Democracy efforts trampled in Myanmar

[ellisonz]

Source: Associated Press

Democracy efforts trampled in Myanmar
32 minutes ago

YANGON, Myanmar - Thousands of soldiers and police were deployed in Myanmar's largest cities Sunday, keeping even the most die-hard protesters off the streets, and more arrests were reported, further demoralizing dissidents desperate for democracy.

The forces were deployed as the top U.N. envoy on Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, was in the country trying to persuade the military rulers to end a deadly crackdown on demonstrators that has sparked international outcry.

----

Soldiers and police have been posted on almost all corners in the cities of Yangon and Mandalay. Shopping malls, grocery stores and public parks were closed and few people dared to venture out of their homes.

----

People suspected of leading or organizing this week's rallies continue to be arrested, he said, estimating that the total number could be as high as 1,000. They joined an estimated 1,100 other political detainees languishing in jails since much before the current turmoil began.

----

Associated Press reporters Denis D. Gray, Jim Gomez, Sutin Wannabovorn, Matthew Streib, Chisaki Watanabe and Tim Sullivan contributed to this report.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070930/ap_on_re_as/myanmar

---

I disagree with the "Asian diplomat," this is not over.