Yangon pagoda sealed off, monks beaten--witness

YANGON, Sep 26 (Reuters) Myanmar security forces today sealed off Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda, the starting point of more than a week of major monk-led protests against decades of military rule in the former Burma.

About 10 monks were beaten as they tried to get past riot police into the shrine, witnesses said. The atmosphere was very tense with onlookers angered by the police action.

REUTERS SG BD1130