Suu Kyi demands apology for mine attack

Burma's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, yesterday called on the authorities to apologise for a violent crackdown on protesters, including monks, who were occupying a copper mine.

Addressing a crowd of more than 10,000 in Monywa, the Nobel Peace laureate said people had the right to ask why authorities had reacted so harshly to the non-violent protesters who had occupied the Letpadaung copper mine for 11 days.

It was the government's biggest crackdown on demonstrations since reformist President Thein Sein took office last year. Police used water cannons, tear gas and smoke bombs to break up the protest on Thursday. A nurse at a Monywa hospital said 27 monks were admitted suffering from burns.

AP