Police fire shots and disperse Myanmar protesters in Yangon

Police in Myanmar’s largest city Yangon fired shots and arrested participants Saturday at several locations where protesters had gathered for rallies against the junta, eyewitnesses said on social media.

Massive action by the security forces and their use of tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators were also reported in other cities.

“Riot police break up anti-coup protesters for two days in a row on Saturday morning at Hledan and Myaynigone junctions, the key rallying points in Yangon,” the online portal Myanmar Now tweeted.

According to Myanmar Now, journalists who reported on the protests were also targeted by the police in Yangon.

For weeks, Myanmar has been shaken by mass protests after the military took power and detained de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. Security forces have violently cracked down on protesters; three people have been killed to date and scores detained.

The demonstrators are demanding Suu Kyi’s release and want the civilian government reinstated.

The new head of the electoral commission in Myanmar, who was appointed by the military junta, has meanwhile declared the result of the general election in November to be invalid.

Thein Soe announced the decision on Friday at a meeting with political parties in the South-east Asian country, The Irrawaddy newspaper reported.