Anti-coup protesters keep pressure on Myanmar junta

Vast numbers of people all over Myanmar flouted orders against demonstrations Sunday to march again in protest against the military takeover that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Large demonstrations were held in the major cities of Yangon, Mandalay and the capital, Naypyitaw, as well as in far-flung areas dominated by the ethnic minorities.

Protesters in Yangon again rallied outside the Chinese and US embassies.

They accuse Beijing of propping up the military regime and applaud Washington's actions sanctioning the military.

"The civil disobedience movement and demonstrations show that the people of Myanmar want democracy. We stand with them," said a statement Saturday on the US Embassy's Twitter account.

Other protesters carried signs urging people to boycott businesses linked to the military.

Civil servants have been very active in the protests, and social media postings on Sunday indicated that state railway workers have joined them, with some unconfirmed claims that they have gone on strike.

The military seized power on February 1, detaining Suu Kyi and members of her gover nment and preventing recently elected lawmakers from opening a new session of Parliament.

The junta, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, said it was forced to step in because the government failed to properly investigate allegations of fraud in last year's election, which Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won in a landslide. The state election commission refuted that contention, saying there is no evidence to support it.