France has warned Burma's ruling junta that it would be held accountable if it cracked down on protesters who have taken to the steets in large numbers in Yangon.
More than 100,000 people led by Buddhist monks protested in the streets of Yangon, in the biggest challenge to Myanmar's military regime in nearly two decades.
"The junta will be held accountable before the international community for the security of the protesters," foreign ministry spokesman Frederic Desagneaux said.
"It is high time that the Burmese authorities agree to open the real process of reform and of national reconciliation that the country needs."
Asserting that France was "watching developments with great concern," the spokesman noted that the "scale of the demonstrations and the participation of monks in the protest movements highlight the level of discontent of the Burmese people."
France is holding talks with its EU partners on the situation in Burma, in particular with Britain "due to its strong and long-standing involvement in this issue," he added.
Celebrity support
The maroon-robed monks began a sixth day of protests with prayers at the Shwedagon Pagoda, Burma's holiest shrine, then marched through the city.
Some carried placards demanding better living conditions in the impoverished south-east Asian nation and calls for national reconciliation, witnesses said.
Burmese celebrities added their voice to calls for ordinary people to join the protests, which began as civilian anger at last month's shock fuel price rises but are now becoming a more deep-rooted religious movement against the generals.
Some of the biggest stars of stage, screen and music, including Tun Eindra Bo - Burma's equivalent of Angelina Jolie - have formed a "Sangkha Support Committee" and pledged to provide the monks with whatever assistance they need.
"The fact these celebrities are joining in is very significant," one Burma exile said.
"The committee said they will move on with the struggle until the end." - © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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