Funeral in Myanmar of first protester to die

The funeral of Mya Thwet Thwet Khine, who was shot by police on February 9 in Nayptitaw during protests against Myanmar's military coup, got underway on Sunday in the capital.

Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was the first confirmed death among the many thousands who have taken to the streets to protest the Feb. 1 coup that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The woman was shot on Feb. 9, two days before her 20th birthday, at a protest in Nayptitaw. She died on Friday.

About 1,000 people in cars and bikes gathered Sunday morning at the hospital where her body was held amid tight security, with even the victim's grandparents who had traveled from Yangon, five hours away, denied entry.

When her body was released, a long motorized procession began a drive to the cemetery.