Min Aung Hlaing who has named himself prime minister has said emergency rule may now extend to August 2023, according to a BBC report.

In an hour-long speech, he pledged to hold a "free and fair multi-party election" but also called the NLD "terrorists".

In his televised speech he also accused those opposing the coup of deliberately spreading Covid-19.

He spoke of "fake news and misinformation via social networks" about his government's Covid policies, calling it a "tool of bioterrorism".

According to the BBC report it was a strange speech, ranging from the need to grow more cotton and onions to condemnation of those trying to destroy the state and Myanmar's traditions.