Iran press/ Asia: The Southeast Asian country has been plunged into turmoil since the military overthrew and detained the leading party's leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1.
Daily demonstrations and strikes have choked business and paralyzed administration.
There were sporadic protests across Myanmar on Saturday and local media reported that police fired tear gas shells and stun grenades to break up a protest in the Sanchaung district of Yangon, the country’s biggest city. There were no reports of casualties.
Late at night, residents said soldiers and police moved into several districts of Yangon, firing shots.
They arrested at least three people in the Kyauktada Township, residents there said. They did not know the reason for the arrests.
Well over 1,500 people have been arrested under the junta, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group. This association and the United Nations say that more than 50 protesters have been killed.
Protesters demand the release of Suu Kyi and the respect of November’s election, which her party won in a landslide, but the army rejected. The army has said it will hold democratic elections at an unspecified date.
Junta leader and army chief Min Aung Hlaing had been under Western sanctions even before the coup for his role in the operation, which U.N. investigators said had been carried out with genocidal intent.
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