Monks join Myanmar anti coup protests

Buddhist monks were at the forefront of marches in Yangon and Mandalay on Tuesday, as anti-coup protesters in Myanmar worked to keep up the momentum of opposition to the February 1 military takeover.

The support of the Buddhist clergy is important as it will be seen as bestowing moral authority on the protest movement.

In an uprising against military rule in 2007 monks played such a key part that it became known as "The Saffron Revolution" after the colour of their robes.

In the Yangon march, on Tuesday, several of the monks were believed to be veterans of that struggle that ended with violent suppression by the military.

Monks were also a presence in a march in Mandalay, a day after security forces dispersed around a thousand protestors outside a state bank, using slingshots and batons.