Myanmar monks hold first march since crackdown

YANGON, Oct 31 (Reuters) About 200 Buddhist monks marched in central Myanmar today for the first time since soldiers crushed monk-led protests against the ruling military junta last month.

The maroon-robed monks chanted prayers as they marched through the town of Pakkoku, where soldiers fired warning shots over the heads of monks early last month, triggering nationwide protests against the regime.

''There were about 200 monks on a prayer march this morning.

They walked along the Pauk Road,'' a witness told Reuters.

Official media say 10 people were killed in the biggest anti-junta protests in two decades, although Western governments say the real toll is likely to be far higher.

REUTERS SYU HS1338