© Provided by The GuardianPhotograph: Hkun Lat/Getty Images
Myanmar police have thrown stun grenades and fired into the air to disperse opponents of military rule, sustaining a sweeping crackdown which has seen the hundreds arrested in town and cites across the country.
The action to stamp out the protests came after state television announced that Myanmar's UN envoy had been fired after he urged the United Nations to use "any means necessary" to reverse the 1 February coup that ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
© Photograph: Hkun Lat/Getty ImagesAnti-coup protesters hold makeshift shields amid clashes with police in Yangon, Myanmar on Saturday.
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Myanmar was thrown into chaos when the army seized power and detained Aung San Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership, alleging fraud in a November election her party won in a landslide.
The coup, which stalled Myanmar's progress toward democracy after nearly 50 years of military rule, has brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets and drawn condemnation from western countries, with some imposing limited sanctions.
© Provided by The GuardianPeople in Yangon set up a barricade during a protest against the military coup on Saturday. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Police were out on the streets in force again at a main protest site in the city of Yangon early on Sunday as hundreds of protesters, many clad in makeshift protective gear, began to congregate, a witness said.
Police moved swiftly to break up groups.
"Police threw stun grenades at us," said protester Myint Myat, 29. "We had to run and hide but I'll get out again because today is very important. If all of us get out, they can't win."
In the second city of Mandalay, officers fired guns into the air, trapping protesting medical staff in a city hospital, according to a doctor.
Police and the spokesman for the ruling military council were not available for comment.
Saturday saw turmoil in towns and cities across the country as police moved forcefully to stamp out the protests, firing tear gas, setting off stun grenades and shooting guns into the air.
Uniformed police and plain-clothes security men set upon some people with clubs, witnesses said.
State-run MRTV television said more than 470 people had been arrested in all. It said police had given warnings before using stun grenades to disperse people.
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Several journalists were among those detained, their media organisations and colleagues said.
"People are protesting peacefully but they're threatening us with weapons," youth activist Shar Yamone said.
"We're fighting to end this military bullying which has been going on for generation after generation."
One woman was shot and wounded in the central town of Monwya, 7Day News and an emergency worker said. 7Day and two other media organisations had earlier reported that she was killed.
General Min Aung Hlaing, leader of the military junta, said authorities have been using minimal force. Nevertheless, at least three protesters have died over the days of turmoil. The army says a policeman has been killed in the unrest.
Saturday's violence came after Kyaw Moe Tun told the UN general assembly he was speaking on behalf of Aung San Suu Kyi's government and appealed for help to end the coup.
MRTV television said he had been fired in accordance with civil service rules because he had "betrayed the country" and "abused the power and responsibilities of an ambassador".
However, the United Nations has not officially recognised the junta as Myanmar's new government.
UN special rapporteur Tom Andrews said he was overwhelmed by the ambassador's "act of courage", adding on Twitter, "It's time for the world to answer that courageous call with action".
Myanmar's generals have traditionally shrugged off diplomatic pressure.
Aung San Suu Kyi, 75, spent nearly 15 years under house arrest during military rule. She faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios and of violating a natural disaster law by breaching coronavirus protocols.