Truckloads of soldiers and riot police have surrounded a number of monasteries in Burma's largest city, Rangoon, to try to prevent a ninth day of protests, BBC reported.

But groups of people are massing on the streets, apparently to prepare for more demonstrations - despite a ban on gatherings of more than five people.

In another sign of increased tensions, two key dissidents have been arrested.

Burma is the traditional name for Myanmar. The Asian nation is presently the site of massive protests led by tens of thousands of Buddhist monks pushing for democracy.

Analysts fear a repeat of the violence in 1988, when troops opened fire on unarmed protestors, killing thousands.