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Burma Frees Wounded Protester, Protests Continue


Burma's military rulers have released a wounded protester in an apparent concession to those rallying across the country against a spike in fuel prices.

Activists said Friday that Ye Thein Naing was released after being taken to a hospital for treatment. His leg was broken when he was detained by authorities during a rally in late August.

Pro-democracy supporters jailed with him had staged a hunger strike on his behalf, ending it when the protester was given medical treatment.

Anti-government protests have been occurring almost daily in Burma in recent weeks.

Authorities fired their guns into the air to break up a march by monks in the central town Pakokku Wednesday, and according to witnesses then beat the protesters and their supporters. On Thursday, several monks retaliated, holding a group of officials hostage for several hours and setting fire to their cars.

After the hostages were released, witnesses say other monks in Pakokku ransacked an electronics shop owned by a local leader of a government-backed militia (Union Solidarity and Development Association).

Pakokku is a major center for Buddhist learning and study.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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