Myanmar makes new mine protest arrests

YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar authorities said on Friday they had made a fresh round of arrests in response to a spate of protests demanding an apology for last month's police crackdown on a rally at a Chinese-backed copper mine.

Demonstrations have been held across the country also known as Burma in a continuing show of public anger at injuries, including severe burns, sustained by dozens of monks in a pre-dawn raid on protest camps at the mine.

"Some activists were arrested for questioning," a police official said, asking not to be named. He said they were picked up in the second-biggest city Mandalay for protesting without permission.

Activist organisation the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, which took part in street action this week, said eight people were arrested late Thursday.