President Thein Sein of Myanmar asked opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday to lead an investigation into the expansion of a copper mine that has led to evictions and protests that were forcibly put down by riot police this week.
At least 50 people were injured on Thursday, including more than 20 Buddhist monks, after riot police raided camps set up round the Monywa mine in the north west Sagaing region by villagers protesting the evictions.
Riot police used teargas, water cannon and many of the injured had serious burns.
As monks protested on Saturday in Myanmar's biggest cities, a statement on the website of the president's office said he had set up a commission led by Suu Kyi with a broad remit to look into whether the expansion of the mine should go ahead and into measures taken to control the protests.
The committee will include three villagers and an official from the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd, which is a partner in the copper mine project with China North Industries Corp, a Chinese weapons manufacturer.
The statement said it should report by the end of December.
Police in Monywa apologised on Saturday for injuries to the monks without explaining what caused the burns.
"We would like to ask for your kindness and request you in the most humble manners to forgive us for what we did," said Colonel San Yuu of Sagaing region at a meeting.
Rallies have been held at the Monywa copper mine for more than three months. State television said just before the crackdown that all work had been halted since 18 November as a result of the protests.
