Myanmar military takes control of country for one year after detaining leaders

Myanmar military television says the country’s military has taken control of the country for one year.

This comes following reports earlier on Monday of a coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s government.

Reports say Ms Suu Kyi was detained under house arrest, as communications were cut to the capital Naypyitaw.

The US, Australia and other countries have expressed concern over the reports and have urged Myanmar’s military to respect the rule of law.

Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party could not be reached for comment, reports PA.

The Myanmar army said it had carried out the detentions in response to “election fraud”, according to a statement on a military-owned television station.

Soldiers have taken up positions at city hall in the main city of Yangon and mobile internet data and phone services in the NLD stronghold were disrupted, residents said.

Internet connectivity has also had fallen dramatically, monitoring service NetBlocks said, reports The Mirror.

Now, Myanmar’s army has declared that power has been handed to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Reuters reports.

A video address broadcast on military-owned television said power had been handed to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The move comes after rising tensions between the civilian government and the powerful military that stirred fears of a takeover the aftermath of an election the army claims was fraudulent.

Spokesman Myo Nyunt told Reuters by phone that Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other leaders had been ‘taken’ in the early hours of the morning.

He said: “I want to tell our people not to respond rashly and I want them to act according to the law.”

He added that he also expected to be detained.

Phone lines to Naypyitaw, the capital, were said to be not reachable in the early hours of Monday and a military spokesperson did not answer phone calls seeking comment.