Nov 7, 2007 (DVB), Nine Burmese Muslims from the former capital Rangoon who supported the monk-led protests in September have been arrested and charged with inciting state unrest, said family members.

Myot Thant, Nyi Nyi Zaw, Myo Win, Naing Min, Htun Htun Naing, Kyaw Kyaw Satt, Htun Myint Aung, Han Zaw Min Aung and Thaung Htut are Muslims from the Rangoon townships of Pebedan, Tamwe, Mingalar Taung Nyunt and Bahan.

They were arrested by the Burmese authorities a few days after they handed bottles of drinking water to protesting monks during the demonstrations at the end of September.

A family members of one of the detainees told DVB that all nine of them are now being held inside Pabadan police station, and their families have only been allowed to visit them once in the last month.

"They have bruises all over their bodies and said they were beaten up nearly every day during interrogation. They could not even eat properly," said the family member, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The Pabedan police chief told us they were beaten up, not by police officers from the station, but by the military security department officers who are conducting their daily interrogations."

Another family member told DVB the nine were brought before Rangoon divisional court on Monday and are now being tried on charges of provoking public unrest in the country.

Reporting by Moe Aye