New protests on Rangoon streets

BBC

Several hundred people have held protests in Burma's main city of Rangoon, despite three days of crackdowns on pro-democracy protests.

Protesters chanted slogans before being baton-charged by security forces, and at least two were severely beaten, eyewitnesses said.

In the central town of Pakokku hundreds of monks reportedly led a peaceful march of thousands of demonstrators.

The protests came as UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Rangoon.

He was due to fly to the new Burmese capital, Naypyidaw, to hold key talks with the country's ruling generals......