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  • NOVEMBER 23, 2024
Myanmar coup

Deadliest day of protests as police open fire


The wounded man is treated in an ambulance in Yangon's Hledan township. BBC

  • Asia
  • AFP, Yangon
  • Published: 01 Mar 2021, 11:08 AM

Police have fired on protesters in Myanmar killing at least 18, the UN human rights office says, on the deadliest day of anti-coup rallies. Deaths were reported in several cities including Yangon, Dawei and Mandalay as police used live rounds and tear gas. Security forces began the violent crackdown on Saturday, after weeks of largely peaceful protests against the 1 February military takeover.

Government leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, were overthrown and detained. Social media footage from Sunday showed protesters running away as police charged at them, makeshift roadblocks being erected, and several people being led away covered in blood.

The police operation was expanded on Sunday as coup leaders sought to quash a civil disobedience campaign that has shown no sign of ending.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration was preparing "additional actions" against those responsible for the violent crackdown.

"We will continue co-ordinating closely with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world to hold those responsible for violence to account," he said in a statement on Sunday.

The US has already imposed sanctions on Myanmar's military leaders since the army seized power.

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