(guest blogged by Bill W.)

(Photo courtesy of Burma Digest)

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The pro-democracy protests in Myanmar have been going on for weeks as the Buddhist monks and their supporters have pitted themselves against Myanmar's ruling junta in a country almost completely devoid of freedom as we know it. While the reports vary, things have taken a turn for the worse since yesterday as riot police have begun firing tear gas, beating protesters in the streets, and arresting hundreds of the monks. CNN reports violence and shots fired, and the AFP is currently reporting that "At least four people including three Buddhist monks were killed."

Police opened fire and baton-charged protesters at the Shwedagon pagoda in Myanmar's main city, but later some 1,000 monks regrouped and paraded through the streets, to the delight of thousands of onlookers.

They roared approval for the monks and shouted at security forces: "You are fools! You are fools!"

Burma Digest Magazine is a great blog that has been keeping up with all of the latest developments, news stories, pictures, and YouTube videos people have been sneaking out of the country and posting as Myanmar has tight internet controls.