Supporters of Myanmar military rally in Yangon

Supporters of Myanmar's military and the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party continued their protests Saturday against Aung San Suu Kyi's landslide election victory. About a thousand protesters marched from various locations in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, and converged near the famous Shwedagon pagoda. The rally was held as Myanmar's military on Saturday denied that controversial statements by its chief were meant as a threat to stage a coup, claiming the media had misinterpreted his words. Political tension in the Southeast Asian nation soared this week after a spokesman for the military said a coup could not be ruled out if military complaints of widespread voting fraud in last November's election were ignored. The commander-in-chief, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, had told senior officers in a speech on Wednesday that the constitution could be revoked if the laws were not being properly enforced. A statement from some diplomatic missions in the country, including the EU, U.S. and U.K., urged the military to "adhere to democratic norms," adding they "oppose any attempt to alter the outcome of the elections." Protesters on Saturday held banners slamming "interference from the U.S." The ruling National League for Democracy party captured 396 out of 476 seats in Myanmar's November 8 election, allowing it to form a government led by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi for another five years. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won only 33 seats. (Image Credit: AP)

Advertisement

Supporters of Myanmar military rally in Yangon

Supporters of Myanmar's military and the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party continued their protests Saturday against Aung San Suu Kyi's landslide election victory.

Advertisement