5. Monks March Again

In Myanmar about 100 monks marched in a peaceful demonstration in the town of Pakokku on Wednesday.

It showed "the sense of frustration and resentment has not disappeared" following last month's crackdown, which saw thousands of monks and pro-democracy activists detained, a Western diplomat in Yangon told AFP.

Hundreds remain in jail, according to diplomats, although the junta on Wednesday released seven people, including members of Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD).

Ibrahim Gambari, the UN special envoy to Myanmar, will arrive today for weekend talks with the ruling generals after his tour of Asia.

Gambari would press for more democratic measures by the government, including the release of all detained students and demonstrators and open up the society as soon as possible.

"We have to give some sense of permanence to this mission. I say this with caution, and it will be possible only with the support of the ASEAN countries and also, of course, China and India," he said.

Read AFP report here.