After a long and tense buildup over recent weeks, the standoff between Buddhist monks and security forces in Burma became violent on Wednesday, with differing reports bringing news of gunfire, deaths and mass arrests in the city of Yangon.

AP via My Way News:

Zin Linn, information minister for the Washington-based National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, which is Myanmar’s self-styled government-in-exile, said at least five monks were killed, while an organization of exiled political activists in Thailand, the National League for Democracy-Liberated Area said three monks had been confirmed dead, and about 17 wounded.

Exiled Myanmar media reported similar figures, citing witnesses.

A Norway-based dissident radio station, the Democratic Voice of Burma, said that one monk was killed and several injured in clashes in downtown Yangon.

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