YANGON, Sept 23: About 20,000 Buddhist monks, nuns and protesters marched in Myanmar on Sunday in the biggest challenge against military rule in the nation for nearly two decades.

Emboldened after a march to see the country’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi one day earlier, they walked in the rain-sodden streets of Yangon from the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Numbers swelled as they crossed downtown Yangon and circled the Sule Pagoda, witnesses said. About 10,000 monks, many of them barefoot, were joined for the first time by nuns in pale pink robes. They were followed by 10,000 supporters.

“We want the people to join us,” the monks chanted.

A group of about 200 protesters and monks carrying a sign reading ‘loving kindness will win every time’ tried to approach Ms Kyi’s house -- as they had done on Saturday -- but were turned away.

Riot police equipped with shields blocked the road and fire trucks were parked nearby, and the monks eventually turned round and left the area.

Clapping onlookers and supporters earlier thronged the side of the road in downtown Yangon, handing out water and flowers and proffering balm for the monks’ exposed feet.

“We want national reconciliation, we want dialogue with the military, we want freedom for Aung San Sun Kyi and other political prisoners,” one protest leader cried into a microphone.

About 300 monks held a prayer vigil for one hour in Magway town, while up to 500 joined a protest in Mandalay.

—AFP