Hundreds of Buddhist monks and protesters are reported to have been arrested and scores beaten by police in the first major outbreak of violence after weeks of protests against the country's military rulers.
Riot police used tear gas, batons and reportedly fired warning shots as a group of monks attempted to stage further protests on Wednesday.
An eyewitness speaking to Al Jazeera from near the Shwedagon pagoda said police armed with heavy weapons had blocked all roads leading to the area.
"It looks like there are hundreds of police with tear gas and guns," she said. "We can still hear the monks and the people chanting."
The witness said she had seen some monks beaten on the head as authorities tried to stop protesters gathering.
Monks are highly revered by Myanmar's majority Buddhist population.
Shwedagon is one of Myanmar's most important spiritual sites has been a focus on what, until Wednesday, had been peaceful protests. Other witnesses reported seeing riot police beat their shields with batons as they chased some of the monks and supporters from the scene. Defying government warnings thousands of monks and other protesters were taking to the streets undeterred on Wednesday, witnesses said.
The violence marks the first major action taken by Myanmar authorities after weeks of escalating tensions, raising fears of a repeat of a 1988 crackdown when the military crushed a pro-democracy uprising killing thousands.
May peace with them.....
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