Myanmar military coup protesters march in Mandalay

Anti-coup protesters gathered in Myanmar's second-largest city, Mandalay, on Sunday, while security forces had been increasing their pressure against them.

Two anti-coup protesters were shot dead by riot police who fired live rounds Saturday in Mandalay, local media reported.

One of the victims was shot in the head and died at the scene, according to Frontier Myanmar, a news and business magazine based in Yangon, the country's largest city.

Another was shot in the chest and died en route to the hospital.

Several other serious injuries were also reported.

The shootings occurred near Mandalay's Yadanabon dock, where tear gas and rubber bullets were used on protesters earlier in the day.

The Irrawaddy news website also confirmed the deaths on social media.

The junta seized power after detaining Suu Kyi and preventing Parliament from convening, saying elections in November were tainted by voting irregularities.

The election outcome, in which Suu Kyi’s party won by a landslide, was affirmed by an election commission that has since been replaced by the military.

The junta says it will hold new elections in a year’s time.

The US, British and Canadian governments have imposed sanctions on the new military leaders, and they and other nations have called for Suu Kyi’s administration to be restored.

The coup was a major setback to Myanmar’s transition to democracy after 50 years of army rule.

Suu Kyi came to power after her National League for Democracy party won a 2015 election, but the generals retained substantial power under the constitution, which was adopted under a military regime.