Burmese Protest Swells to 20K

Buddhist monks and nuns are at the helm of Burma's 'largest' anti-government protest since the failed student uprising in 1988. An estimated 20,000 took to the streets today in the seventh day of demonstrations for lower prices, an end to the ruling military junta, and release of political prisoners. The mood in Rangoon is euphoric, reports the BBC.

Security forces are still taking a hands-off approach, but unlike yesterday, they barred protesters from re-entering the road that leads to the residence of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The monks are urging Burmese to hold synchronized prayer vigils over the next three days, and vowed to continue protesting until they "wiped the military dictatorship from the land." (More Burma stories.)