Mynmar junta reduces curfew in main city

YANGON, Oct 2 (Reuters) Myanmar's military junta announced a two-hour reduction in an overnight curfew imposed on its main city last week as it countered the biggest anti-government protests in 20 years.

Louspeaker trucks driving through the streets of Yangon said the curfew would now run from 10 pm to 4 am (2000 IST 0300 IST) instead of 9 pm to 5 am (1900 IST 0400 IST).

The reduction is another sign of the military regime's confidence at having crushed the uprising, the biggest challenge to its authority since 1988 when the army killed an estimated 3,000 people in a crackdown stretching over several months.

REUTERS ARB PM1502