Violent Face-Off Rages in Burma

A brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters continued after a bloody confrontation yesterday when soldiers shot dead at least nine people,  including a Japanese news photographer. Troops again opened fire on demonstrators today, cut internet connections and sealed monasteries as crowds defied orders from the ruling military junta to disperse. Five monasteries were sealed with barbed-wire barricades guarded by soldiers.

Fewer monks have appeared at the protests, which have become more chaotic and confrontational, reports the Guardian. Monasteries have been looted and at least one senior abbot has been killed. Japan's foreign minister lodged a furious protest over the shooting of the newsman near Rangoon's Sule Pagoda. "Something deplorable is happening," said Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. (More Burma protest stories.)