125 protesters detained in Myanmar

At least 125 protesters were detained in Myanmar authorities' action to disperse striking students attempting to force their way through to Yangon from Lepadan, Bago region on Tuesday afternoon, official sources said.

The protesters attempted to push through security blockade erected by the security forces after negotiation between the two sides broke down.

Although the main group of striking students were first granted to continue their journey to Yangon on condition shortly before in the morning, the students defied the condition and began the attempt to push through the security line, resulting in violent clashes between the two sides, Xinhua reported.

The student group's sit-in protest involving a number of Buddhist monks was staged near a monastery compound in Letpadan in defiance of an ultimatum order of the township administration to halt protest.

Despite end of the deadline on March 4 evening, hard negotiation still continued since then between the two sides until the authorities' disperse action was taken on Tuesday.

The authorities claimed that the measure was taken in accordance with law as the protesting students stoned the security forces first.

Meanwhile, about 60 students in Yangon marched on road near Kamayut Hledan area on Tuesday afternoon in protest of the authorities' using force to break up striking students in Letpadan over the issue of amendment of the national education law.

The security forces intervened the march and after negotiation, the demonstrating students disbanded themselves, the sources added.