Gallery: Clashes in Burma

Riot police block a monk's path to the Shwedagon pagoda in Rangoon Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

A monk walks past burning vehicles as security forces fired warning shots and teargas Photograph: National League For Democracy-Liberated Area/AP

Smoke rises from the site of the Shwedagon pagoda Photograph: STR/Reuters

Men shout for peace and democracy as they make way for monks marching through Rangoon Photograph: STR/Reuters

A woman prays for the Buddhist monks as they march in downtown Rangoon Photograph: AFP/Getty

A group of monks sit in protest after being halted by riot police and military officials as they headed towards the Shwedagon pagoda Photograph: STR/Reuters

Bystanders watch as monks and their supporters march through the city Photograph: STR/Reuters

Monks and supporters look down a street blocked off by police and clouded with teargas Photograph: AFP/Getty

Riot police and soldiers prevent the monks from entering the Shwedagon pagoda, Rangoon's holiest shrine Photograph: Mandalay Gazette/EPA

Thousands join the anti-government protests Photograph: Mandalay Gazette/EPA

A protesting monk wipes away tears Photograph: AFP/Getty

Supporters link hands to form a human chain guarding the marching monks Photograph: AFP/Getty

Armed police, their weapons pointing to the sky, block off a street Photograph: AFP/Getty

People cheer as Buddhist monks address a crowd of protesters Photograph: Burma Myo Chit/EPA