Wed Sep 26, 8:30 AM ET

YANGON - At least three monks were killed in clashes with Myanmar security forces who cracked down on anti-government protests in Yangon, two officials told AFP.

"According to the information that we received, at least three monks were killed," one Myanmar official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

One monk was killed when a gun went off as he tried to wrestle the weapon away from a soldier, while two others were beaten to death, the official said.

His account was confirmed by a second official, who said the toll was based on official reports of incidents that took place around the Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar's holiest site and a key rallying point for the monks.