Myanmar security forces open fire on protesters, killing two

Security forces in Myanmar opened fire on protesters in the city of Mandalay on Saturday, killing two people and wounding dozens, according to witnesses.

The shootings occurred as authorities were trying to force workers back to their jobs at a local shipyard.

They were among hundreds of thousands of workers across Myanmar who have walked off their jobs to protest the military’s Feb. 1 coup and its ouster of elected civilian leaders.

More than 1,000 demonstrators gathered at the shipyard to block police, leading to a tense standoff that lasted much of Saturday afternoon. Authorities used water cannons, rubber bullets, tear gas, slingshots and ultimately live ammunition to break up the crowd, witnesses said.

At least 40 people were wounded, according to volunteer medics on scene.

The Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, which has ruled the country for much of the past 60 years, staged a predawn coup Feb. 1, forcing out elected leaders and placing the head of the civilian government, Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest.

The military also detained many leaders of her party, the National League for Democracy. More than 500 political figures and critics of the military are now being held, many without charges.

The coup immediately prompted protests throughout the country and spurred a growing civil disobedience movement with widespread labor walkouts. Among the key targets of the work stoppages are key entities that help the military collect revenue, including tax offices, the government electricity ministry and private banks.