Mandalay demo cut short as security forces nearing

Columns of Myanmar anti-coup protesters threw off fear of deadly police action and returned to the streets of Mandalay on Saturday, though they hastily ended their march when they heard news of the approach of security forces.

About 5,000 people, led by engineers and government railway workers took a route that avoided main roads to lessen the chance of trouble.

The city has been the scene of several deaths as security forces try to crush opposition to the February 1 coup d'etat that overthrew the elected government. On Friday, a 26-year-old man was shot dead as he and other residents sought to protect a march by a group of engineers.