The World : 187 Aides Quit Burma Party

At least 187 Burmese Foreign Ministry officials resigned from the country’s ruling party in a protest against the foundering government of President Maung Maung. A statement from the senior diplomats and ministry employees said they decided to resign en masse from the Burma Socialist Program Party, which protesters blame for repression and stagnation. The government, which has refused to budge from its plan for a party leadership meeting next week to consider a referendum on ending one-party rule, faces nationwide demonstrations Thursday.