Oct 9, 2007 (DVB), Three leaders of the All-Burmese Federation of Students' Unions have been arrested in Rangoon today.

Ko Kyaw Ko Ko, Ko Sithu Maung (also known as Yar Pyit) and Ma Han Ni Oo were arrested by the Burmese authorities today at around 3pm, according to an ABFSU member who managed to escape.

The group members were hiding at a safehouse when it was raided by security forces.

The ABFSU member who escaped was not able to say if the raid had been violent, or where the leaders had been taken.

Arrests and raids have continued in connection with the recent mass demonstrations despite the Burmese regime's claims that the situation has now returned to normal.

Daytime raids have become common in Rangoon, and the houses of suspicious or high profile characters are all under close watch by government agents.

In a separate incident, about 10 youths who live in the 30th Street area of Pabedan township, Rangoon, were arrested by police on Sunday afternoon.

Sources close to the youths told DVB that the township police officers who made the arrest claimed the youths were detained for their involvement in protests staged in the former capital at the end of last month.

Reporting by Maung Too and Aye Nai