Myanmar student representatives said that 14 students had been arrested and charged with offences carrying up to two years in jail after handing out pamphlets that criticised the government and the military, Reuters reported.

Police said they did not have details of any arrests. A government spokesman was not immediately available to comment, according to the report.

The detentions and charges were reported by the All Burma Federation of Students Unions (ABFSU), which represents the interests of students across the country, as well as campaign group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) and New York-based Human Rights Watch.