Army-ruled Myanmar detains six after rare protest

YANGON, Feb 22 (Reuters) Myanmar's military government has detained six people after a rare public protest over living conditions in Yangon, the nation's commercial capital, relatives said today.

Four were picked up late yesterday, hours after police broke up the peaceful demonstration and arrested two other protesters at the scene, they said.

More than a dozen activists had waved placards and shouted slogans for 30 minutes outside Yangon's busiest bus station, demanding better health care, education and reliable power supplies in a city plagued by daily blackouts.

Public protests are rare in the impoverished Southeast Asian country, ruled by the military in various guises since 1962.

The state-owned New Light of Myanmar newspaper denounced the group for trying to ''incite a public demonstration''.

''Their attempt was aimed at instigating external anti-government groups and foreign media to fabricate news about Myanmar, and thus expecting medals or cash awards from abroad,'' the newspaper said.

Despite great natural wealth in oil, gas and minerals, four decades of mismanagement have left the economy in a mess and the country's 52 million people among the world's poorest.

REUTERS BDP BD1716