Britain on Thursday announced sanctions against Myanmar businessman U Tay Za and his Htoo Group in the latest action to target those funding the ruling military junta.

Britain's Foreign Office described Tay Za as a "key business associate" of the junta, whose network of companies provided "financial support and arms to the military".

The move follows sanctions on senior Myanmar military officers and their businesses following February's military coup.

"The military junta has shown no signs of halting its brutal attack on the people of Myanmar," said Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

"Along with our partners, the UK will continue to restrict the junta's access to finance and the supply of arms used to kill innocents, including children, and target those who support the junta's actions."

The sanctions will freeze all British assets held by Htoo Group and Tay Za and forbids the tycoon from entering the country.

Britain said Tay Za was associated with the military "through his extensive links with the former and current junta regimes".

It accused him of providing support for "serious human rights violations in his role in assisting the military to procure arms".

Britain has already sanctioned the Myanmar Gems Enterprise, the Myanmar Economic Corporation and another military-linked conglomerate called Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd.

AFP