[News] Myanmar coup: Calls for Aung San Suu Kyi release

[Shyloo]

Myanmar coup: Calls for Aung San Suu Kyi release

 

Calls are growing for the release of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi a day after the army seized power in the south-east Asian nation.

Ms Suu Kyi, who led the country's elected government, has not been seen since she was detained by the military.

MPs who were confined in their accommodation in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, have now been told they can leave.

But there are signs of defiance, including a medical staff strike and pot-banging in the main city Yangon.

The military took power in the early hours of Monday and declared a year-long state of emergency after accusing Ms Suu Kyi's party of fraud over its recent election win.

All you need to know about the coup
Her National League for Democracy (NLD) demanded her immediate release on Tuesday. It has also called upon the military to accept the results of the November election, which saw the NLD win more than 80% of the votes.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, was ruled by the armed forces until 2011, when a nominally civilian government was sworn in.

Map of Myanmar
Presentational white space
What is happening now in Myanmar?
The morning after the coup, the country remained calm. Streets were quiet, with troops patrolling all major cities and a night-time curfew in force.

The communications systems which had been disrupted on Monday had returned by Tuesday morning, with phone and internet connections running again.

Growing up under Myanmar's military rule
Military coup likely to damage Myanmar's economy
Myanmar's coup: Why now - and what's next?
But as night fell on Tuesday, car horns and the banging of cooking pots could be heard in the streets of Yangon in a sign of protest.

A campaign of civil disobedience appeared to be gathering steam with doctors working in government hospitals saying they would stop work from Wednesday to push for Ms Suu Kyi's release.

Some medics are resorting to wearing symbols in silent protest.