Wounded Myanmar refugees tell of air strike horror

AFP

Civilians wounded in Myanmar air strikes on ethnic positions spoke of their terrifying ordeal Tuesday after trekking through jungle to seek medical treatment across the border in Thailand.

Military jets hit targets in eastern Karen state on Saturday and Sunday, as Myanmar reeled from the deadliest day so far in the junta's crackdown on anti-coup protests.

The strikes targeted territory held by the Karen National Union (KNU), one of the nation's largest ethnic armed groups, which had earlier seized a military base.

Myanmar crackdown death toll passes 520

AFP

The civilian death toll in the Myanmar military's crackdown on protesters passed 520 as armed rebel groups on Tuesday threatened the junta with retaliation if the bloodshed does not stop.

World powers have ramped up their condemnation of the military's campaign against the anti-coup movement that is demanding the restoration of the elected government and the release of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

At least 14 killed in Monday protest, 8 in South Dagon

Mizzima

Out of 14 civilians killed in Myanmar on Monday, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said at least eight were in the South Dagon district of Yangon, Reuters reported.

Myanmar protesters held overnight candle-lit vigils and launched a civil disobedience campaign of hurling garbage on to streets.

Security forces in the area fired a much heavier-calibre weapon than usual on Monday to clear a barricade of sandbags, witnesses said. It was not immediately clear what type of weapon was used, the Reuters report said.

US suspends Myanmar trade pact after bloodiest weekend

AFP

The US suspended a trade pact with Myanmar Monday and led international condemnation of the junta's ruthless crackdown, as protesters and mourners took to the streets after the deadliest weekend since the military coup.

Soldiers and police have killed hundreds in a brutal campaign against mass anti-coup protests demanding a restoration of democracy and the release of ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Toddler survives Myanmar airstrike that killed father

AFP

A Myanmar toddler has miraculously survived a weekend airstrike that killed his father in their bamboo hut near the coup-hit country's border with Thailand.

The nation has been in turmoil since the military ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, triggering mass protests demanding a return to democracy.

On Saturday night, the Myanmar military launched the first airstrikes in Karen state in 20 years, hours after a rebel group had seized a military base.

UN Security Council to meet Wednesday on Myanmar: diplomats

AFP

Britain has called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Myanmar, where scores of anti-coup protesters were killed over the weekend, diplomatic sources said Monday.

The 15 Security Council members will begin the session behind closed doors Wednesday with a briefing on the situation by the UN's special envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, the sources said.

France denounces 'blind and deadly' violence in Myanmar

AFP

France on Monday slammed "blind and deadly" violence in Myanmar where the ruling junta's ruthless crackdown left more than 100 people dead Saturday, the deadliest weekend since the military coup.

"The security forces in Myanmar have reached a new stage in blind and deadly violence... and have again used arms against the population, killing more than 100, including very young children," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement.

Myanmar violence could be 'catastrophic' for youth: UNICEF

AFP

The violence meted out by Myanmar's military since last month's coup risks inflicting "catastrophic" consequences on the country's younger generation, the head of the UN children's agency warned Sunday.

The comments from UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore come after at least seven children were among more than 100 people killed by security forces Saturday.

"I am appalled by the indiscriminate killing, including of children, taking place in Myanmar and by the failure of security forces to exercise restraint and ensure children's safety," Fore said.

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