AFP

Britain on Thursday condemned "bullying" by the Myanmar junta after the country's ambassador to London was ousted in an extraordinary diplomatic coup having called for the release of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Diplomats loyal to the Myanmar military authorities seized control of the embassy on Wednesday, leaving ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn locked out in the street.

The ambassador said the defence attache had taken over the mission in "a kind of coup", two months after the military seized power in Myanmar, and urged the international community to help his country.

"Please assist our country and help our country as without international assistance we will not be able to get out of this mess," he told reporters outside the embassy.

The junta recalled Kyaw Zwar Minn last month after he issued a statement urging them to release Suu Kyi and deposed civilian President Win Myint.

British foreign minister Dominic Raab tweeted his support for the ambassador, who spent the night in his car outside the embassy.

"We condemn the bullying actions of the Myanmar military regime in London yesterday, and I pay tribute to Kyaw Zwar Minn for his courage," Raab wrote.

"The UK continues to call for an end to the coup and the appalling violence, and a swift restoration of democracy."

UK sources said the Myanmar authorities had given official notice of Kyaw Zwar Minn's termination as ambassador, and in line with diplomatic policy the government had no choice but to accept it.

The defence attache has installed deputy ambassador Chit Win as charge d'affaires.

Myanmar's military spokesman Zaw Min Tun confirmed the country's foreign affairs ministry had been in touch with their UK counterparts in London over the incident.

"We have sent an official appointment letter already for Chit Win as the chief of mission there. They have accepted," he told AFP, adding the ambassador was required to return home.

AFP