Fri Sep 28, 11:50 AM ET

NEW DELHI - Indian MPs and religious leaders protested the crackdown in Myanmar and prodded its military junta to free hundreds of detained pro-democracy activists.

Parliamentarians from various political parties attacked the Myanmar regime for the crackdown, which has resulted in hundreds of arrests and left at least 13 dead.

The protest came as India walked a diplomatic tightrope, juggling energy and security concerns with a commitment to democracy.

The Indian protest coincided with a street rally in New Delhi by a group of Myanmar students, witnesses said.

"We, the MPs, cutting across party lines express solidarity with monks, nuns and the people of Myanmar," said veteran MP Nirmala Deshpande, who leads a forum of Indian parliamentarians for democracy in Myanmar.

"We would like to appeal to all concerned, that the political leaders be released (in Myanmar) and the process for establishing democracy be started soon," Deshpande said in a statement.

In a separate statement, six religious leaders based in the Indian capital called for an end to the crackdown, which entered its third day on Friday.

"We strongly support and express solidarity with the non-violent, peaceful demonstrations of the Buddhist monks and nuns and the Myanmarese for democracy and freedom," the religious heads added.

India's foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee, now on a visit to the United States, was quoted as saying New Delhi hoped to see a peaceful end to the crackdown in Myanmar, sandwiched between India and China.

"It is our hope that all sides will resolve their issues peacefully through dialogue," he told CNN-IBN television network.

"As a close and friendly neighbour, India hopes to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Myanmar," he said as fresh protests erupted in three locations in Yangon on Friday.

New Delhi kept the military junta at arm's length after a 1988 crackdown on democracy protests and until the mid-1990s was a staunch supporter of pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

It bestowed on Aung San Suu Kyi the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award -- named after India's first prime minister -- in 1993.

But India changed track when it realised its security interests in its far-flung rebel-infested northeastern region, which neighbours Myanmar, were in jeopardy.

It rolled out the red carpet for military strongman Than Shwe in a 2004 visit.

Since India began engaging the generals, there has been cooperation between Indian and Myanmar's security forces in flushing out the northeastern rebels.