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Myanmar coup: UN calls for release of 'trapped' protesters Myanmar coup: Protesters freed after being 'trapped' overnight
(about 3 hours later)
More than 200 people are thought to be trapped in the Sanchaung districtMore than 200 people are thought to be trapped in the Sanchaung district
The UN has appealed to the military in Myanmar for the safe release of hundreds of protesters believed to be trapped inside an apartment block. Hundreds of Myanmar protesters who had been trapped overnight by security forces have now been able to get out.
Security forces are thought to have cornered the group of about 200 people in a district of Yangon since Monday. Around 200 people in a district of Yangon had on Monday been blocked from leaving a four-street area in the Sanchaung area of the city on Monday.
The UN Human Rights Office said the group had been protesting peacefully and should be allowed to leave. According to United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres, many of those trapped had been women who were marching in support of International Women's Day.
Explosions were heard from the area, believed to be made by stun grenades.
The UN had appealing to the military for their "safe release", with Mr Guterres urging "maximum restraint".
Early on Tuesday, one protester told the BBC that he was able to leave at around 06:30 local time (00:00 GMT). He said security forces had left the area early in the morning.
He added that 40 people were arrested overnight, but the rest of them remained hidden until the morning and were able to leave.
Another protester tweeted on Tuesday morning that she had "arrived home safe...[after being] at a place in Sanchaung the entire night", adding that "all who were hiding with me are safe".
Mass protests have been seen across Myanmar since the military seized power on 1 February.Mass protests have been seen across Myanmar since the military seized power on 1 February.
More than 54 people have been killed by security forces in demonstrations so far.More than 54 people have been killed by security forces in demonstrations so far.
According to the UN, the group were blocked from leaving a four-street area in the Sanchaung area of the city on Monday. 'Free the students'
Police have been raiding houses in the area looking for people who are from outside the district. Residents and a local news service claimed on Facebook that at least 20 people have been arrested in the raids. Myanmar police had on Monday been raiding houses in the area looking for people who were from outside the district.
Explosions have been heard from the area, believed to be the sound of stun grenades used by the military. Residents and a local news service claimed on Facebook that at least 20 people had been arrested in the raids.
Reports later emerged that security forces had surrounded a group of young people in the Sanchaung neighbourhood - with explosions heard from the area.
Activist Maung Saungkha said on Twitter late on Monday that she managed to "escape" Sanchaung, but added that "almost 200 young protesters are blocked by police and soldiers there".
In Yangon, huge numbers of people gathered on the streets, defying a curfew, in an attempt to distract security forces. They were heard chanting: "Free the students in Sanchaung."
Security forces fired guns and used stun grenades in an attempt to disperse them, Reuters news agency reports.
Myanmar coup: How did we get here?
It's thought that three people died in demonstrations across the country on Monday.
Protesters have been taking to the streets for the past month calling for an end to military rule and the release of the country's elected government leaders - including Aung San Suu Kyi - who were overthrown and detained in the coup.
Party official dies in custody in MyanmarParty official dies in custody in Myanmar
The shadowy business empire funding Myanmar's militaryThe shadowy business empire funding Myanmar's military
UN chief Antonio Guterres was calling for "maximum restraint" and the "safe release of all without violence or arrests", his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Separately on Monday, the military government revoked the publishing licenses of five local news outlets - Mizzima, DVB, Khit Thit Media, Myanmar Now and 7Day News - that had been widely covering the protests.
"Many of those trapped are women who were peacefully marching in commemoration of International Women's Day," he said. In a statement on Facebook, Mizzima said it would defy this ban, adding that it would "continue to fight against the military coup by publishing and broadcasting through multimedia platforms".
The British Embassy also called for the protesters to be freed. Just before the government's announcement, Myanmar Now reported that its office in downtown Yangon had been raided by soldiers and police.
Myanmar coup: How did we get here? They added that computers, printers and parts of the newsroom's data server had been seized. One of the news agency's reporters was arrested while livestreaming a protest in Yangon last month.
In Yangon, huge numbers of people gathered on the streets, defying a curfew, in an attempt to distract security forces. They were heard chanting "Free the students in Sanchaung".
Security forces fired guns and used stun grenades in an attempt to disperse them, Reuters news agency reports.
It's thought that three people died in demonstrations across the country on Monday. Protesters have been taking to the streets for the past month calling for an end to military rule and the release of the country's elected government leaders - including Aung San Suu Kyi - who were overthrown and detained in the coup.
Myanmar in profileMyanmar in profile
Myanmar, also known as Burma, became independent from Britain in 1948. For much of its modern history it has been under military ruleMyanmar, also known as Burma, became independent from Britain in 1948. For much of its modern history it has been under military rule
Restrictions began loosening from 2010 onwards, leading to free elections in 2015 and the installation of a government led by veteran opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi the following yearRestrictions began loosening from 2010 onwards, leading to free elections in 2015 and the installation of a government led by veteran opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi the following year
In 2017, Myanmar's army responded to attacks on police by Rohingya militants with a deadly crackdown, driving more than half a million Rohingya Muslims across the border into Bangladesh in what the UN later called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing"In 2017, Myanmar's army responded to attacks on police by Rohingya militants with a deadly crackdown, driving more than half a million Rohingya Muslims across the border into Bangladesh in what the UN later called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing"