Myanmar protesters burn flags of Russia and China

Anti-coup protesters in southern Myanmar on Thursday burned the national flags of Russia and China: two countries they perceive as backing the military junta which seized power in February.

The demonstrators in Launglone Township also set fire to a copy of the country's 2008 Constitution drafted by the military.

The short protest in the township near the city of Dawei, which has held daily demonstrations against the new government, was held despite the danger of a lethal reaction from security forces.

The military-drafted 2008 Constitution helped preserve the generals' power through the recent years of democratization and was used to claim that the takeover was in fact legal, under its provisions, and not a coup.

Popular sentiment is running high among Myanmar's protest movement against both China and Russia as they are seen as likely roadblocks to any UN move to impose strong sanctions against the junta.

Russia sent its deputy defense minister to the recent Myanmar Armed Forces Day in the capital Naypyitaw.

That same day security forces killed more than 150 protesters across the country, the heaviest single-day death toll so far.