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YANGON : Myanmar's military rulers Sunday accused the United States and Britain of trying to topple them by backing a wave of rare anti-government protests.
The Myanmar government has faced three weeks of near-daily protests by pro-democracy supporters around the country, sparked by public anger over a massive hike in fuel prices last month.
The New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Sunday accused Britain and the United States of supporting the protesters.
"They are aiding and abetting above-ground destructive elements inside the country," the paper said.
"They are using national traitors in exile, left-wing and right-wing political groups and insurgent remnants at the border by giving them all necessary assistance," it said.
"It is crystal clear that seeking its self-interest, the US is resorting to various ways including the way of transformational diplomacy to break up our Union, to weaken national consolidation, to put the country under colonial rule and to install a puppet government," it added.
More than 150 people have been arrested following the rare protests, according to Amnesty International.
But the demonstrations still grew last week to include Buddhist monks who seized 20 government officials as hostages for several hours at a monastery in central Myanmar.
The junta's crackdown on the dissent has drawn an international outcry, led by the United States and former colonial power Britain.
US President George W. Bush has pressured nations at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney to step up their efforts to push Myanmar's regime to reform.
Bush branded the government as "tyrannical" for its crackdown on opponents. - AFP/ch
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