From The First Post :

Resistance spreads to Mandalay

Popular resistance to the Burmese junta is growing across the country, reports edward loxton Popular resistance to the Burmese junta spread this morning to the country's second city, Mandalay, where troops and riot police raided a leading monastery during the night, dragged about 40 monks from their beds and bundled them into trucks. News of the raid spread rapidly through the city and brought angry residents out on to the streets. Groups were reported to be arming to defend the monasteries. Mandalay is Burma's most important Buddhist centre, and its temples are among the most sacred in the land. About half Burma's 400,000 monks are in residence at Mandalay's 300 monasteries. In Rangoon, the streets were strangely quiet on Friday morning, although the atmosphere was tense. Troops continued to strengthen their positions around the city's monasteries and at key points where demonstrators have massed in recent days. The official death toll from the violence so far is 10, but it may be much higher The death toll from the violence so far has been officially given as 10, although the Australian Ambassador in Rangoon, Bob Davis, said he thought the real number of deaths ran into "multiples of that". Burma's Karen National Union, which has been fighting for independence for the Karen people for the past 60 years, called on its supporters and other ethnic groups, many of whom are armed, to join the uprising. Karen State adjoins south-west Thailand, where Thai forces have upped security. Support was also offered by the Shan State Army-South, a powerful force which has the Burmese army pinned down in areas bordering northern Thailand. The Burmese regime's assault on the opposition movement even spread online. An attempt was made overnight to block the website of Burmese magazine Irrawaddy. The attack was traced back to a Russian source. Burma is closed to foreign reporters. Edward Loxton is reporting for The First Post from Chiang Mai in neighbouring Thailand, talking to eyewitnesses in Rangoon by telephone.