The main public Internet link between Myanmar (also known as Burma) and the outside world is down. An official with Myanmar Post and Telecoms blames a damaged cable under the sea.

Embassy internet connections, however, remain viable.

The country’s loss of Internet connectivity came this morning amid an intensifying repression against pro-democracy protestors. Government soldiers have killed at least nine and have raided and looted Buddhist monastaries.

Buddhist monks led vast street demonstrations against the ruling junta over the past two weeks, but laypeople have begun to take over after hundreds of monks were beaten and arrested.

The mood of the protests has grown less peaceful as the monks’ presence has dwindled.

• Agence France-Presse: Myanmar’s main Internet link not working: official
• The Register: Note to despots: You can’t kill the internet
• Roundup: Complete coverage