Women activists in Burma have staged a small anti-government protest in the main city Rangoon - the first to take place there since the authorities crushed demonstrations in September.

Around thirty women gathered quietly at the Sule pagoda in central Rangoon, trying to avoid alerting the security forces.

They marched to Botahtaung pagoda where they said prayers. The military government has maintained a heavy security presence in the city since it used violence to end widespread protests in September .