Myanmar killings draw international condemnation

U.S. Department of Defense confirmed Saturday that twelve nations have signed a joint statement condemning actions of Myanmar military during weekend's democracy protests.

As Myanmar’s military celebrated annual Armed Forces Day holiday with a pare Saturday in country's capital, soldiers and police elsewhere killed scores of people while suppressing protests in deliest bloodletting since last month's coup.

online news site Myanmar w reported late Saturday that death toll h reached 114.

killings quickly drew international condemnation, including a joint statement from defense chiefs of U.S, Australia, Cana, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Denmark, Nerlands, New Zealand, South Korea and U.K.

“A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting – t harming – people it serves,” y said.

“We urge Myanmar Armed Forces to cease violence and work to restore respect and credibility with people of Myanmar that it has lost through its actions.”

European Union’s delegation to Myanmar said that 76th Myanmar Armed Forces Day “will stay engraved as a day of terror and dishor.”

“ killing of unarmed civilians, including children, are indefensible acts,” it ded.

death toll in Myanmar has been steily rising as authorities grow more forceful in suppressing opposition to Feb. 1 coup that ousted elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

coup reversed years of progress toward democracy after five deces of military rule.