MONYWA (Myanmar): Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday demanded an apology for monks hurt in a violent police crackdown at a Chinese copper mine protest, after she held talks with the two sides.

The Nobel laureate sought to mediate an end to the standoff, which saw scores of villagers and monks injured in the toughest clampdown on demonstrators since a new reform-minded government took power last year.

“We know that police officials are responsible for what happened but we need to know why they did it,” Suu Kyi told reporters during a visit to the area. “I think the monks need an apology.”

In an attempt to cool anti-Chinese sentiment, however, the veteran dissident struck a conciliatory tone towards Beijing and declined to back calls for an immediate halt to work on the Monywa mine in northern Myanmar.

“We have never regarded the People’s Republic of China as our benefactor.

But it is our neighbouring country so we want to be a friend,” she added.—AFP