Explosion rattles Yangon amid tight security

by Sanjay Jha | September 24, 2008 at 09:46 pm

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Just ahead of anniversary of a military crackdown on the protest by Buddhist monks in the former capital Rangoon a suspected bomb blast outside the City Hall has been reported. And initial report confirms four people are injured.

The explosion occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time at a bus stop near Yangon's City Hall, which was central to the protests led by Buddhist monks a year ago. Myanmar has been under military rule since a 1962 coup. More details are awaited.

Witnesses say an explosion went off in Myanmar's main city amid tight security to mark the one-year anniversary of the junta's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

Witnesses say three people appeared to have been lightly wounded by Thursday's blast.

The explosion occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time at a bus stop near Yangon's City Hall, which was central to the protests led by Buddhist monks a year ago.

Riot police have poured into the area and sealed it off with yellow tape. Security has been tight in downtown Yangon ahead of the anniversary.

At least 31 people were killed when troops fired on protesters Sept. 26-27, 2007, violently crushing the peaceful uprising against the military government.