YANGON, Sept 26: Myanmar security forces used batons, tear gas and live rounds on Wednesday in a violent crackdown on mass protests against the military junta, killing at least four people, including three Buddhist monks.

Up to 100,000 people defied heavy security to take to the streets of the main city Yangon, marching and shouting abuse at police despite blunt warnings from the ruling generals who are facing the most serious challenge to their rule in nearly two decades.Two of the monks were beaten to death while another was shot when he tried to wrestle a gun away from a soldier and the weapon discharged, two senior Myanmar officials said.

They said the monks were killed near Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda.—AFP