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Myanmar's UK envoy says military attache has 'occupied' embassy | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Myanmar's ambassador to the UK Kyaw Zwar Minn (R) speaks to a police officer outside the embassy in London | Myanmar's ambassador to the UK Kyaw Zwar Minn (R) speaks to a police officer outside the embassy in London |
Myanmar's ambassador in London says he has been locked out of his embassy. | Myanmar's ambassador in London says he has been locked out of his embassy. |
Kyaw Zwar Minn said staff were asked to leave the building by Myanmar's military attaché and he was told he was no longer the country's representative. | Kyaw Zwar Minn said staff were asked to leave the building by Myanmar's military attaché and he was told he was no longer the country's representative. |
"I have been locked out," he told Reuters news agency. | "I have been locked out," he told Reuters news agency. |
Myanmar's military seized power in a coup on 1 February, sparking weeks of protests and escalating violence. Kyaw Zwar Minn has called for the release of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. | Myanmar's military seized power in a coup on 1 February, sparking weeks of protests and escalating violence. Kyaw Zwar Minn has called for the release of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. |
More than 500 people - including dozens of children - have been killed so far as pro-democracy protesters demand a return to power of elected leader Ms Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. | More than 500 people - including dozens of children - have been killed so far as pro-democracy protesters demand a return to power of elected leader Ms Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. |
Myanmar coup: What is happening and why? | Myanmar coup: What is happening and why? |
Aung San Suu Kyi: Democracy icon who fell from grace | Aung San Suu Kyi: Democracy icon who fell from grace |
Kyaw Zwar Minn described Wednesday's events as "a kind of coup, in the middle of London", Reuters reported. "This kind of coup is not going to happen," he added. | Kyaw Zwar Minn described Wednesday's events as "a kind of coup, in the middle of London", Reuters reported. "This kind of coup is not going to happen," he added. |
The ambassador was pictured standing on the street outside Myanmar's embassy in London's Mayfair speaking to officers from the Metropolitan Police force. | The ambassador was pictured standing on the street outside Myanmar's embassy in London's Mayfair speaking to officers from the Metropolitan Police force. |
Burmese community in London currently gathering at #Myanmar embassy over the news of the embassy being seized by the regime. The police are seen there. Ambassador is reportedly blocked from entering the building. Livehttps://t.co/qriPYPfY8J#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/uKS9UrATFO | Burmese community in London currently gathering at #Myanmar embassy over the news of the embassy being seized by the regime. The police are seen there. Ambassador is reportedly blocked from entering the building. Livehttps://t.co/qriPYPfY8J#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/uKS9UrATFO |
Police were reportedly called to stop staff re-entering the building. | Police were reportedly called to stop staff re-entering the building. |
Protesters have since been gathering outside the embassy. | Protesters have since been gathering outside the embassy. |
In March, Kyaw Zwar Minn called for the release of Ms Suu Kyi and told the BBC that Myanmar was "divided" and could be at risk of civil war. | In March, Kyaw Zwar Minn called for the release of Ms Suu Kyi and told the BBC that Myanmar was "divided" and could be at risk of civil war. |
He maintained that his remarks were not "betraying the country", adding that he was standing on "middle" ground. | He maintained that his remarks were not "betraying the country", adding that he was standing on "middle" ground. |
The ambassador, who is a former military colonel, was praised by British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who commended his "courage and patriotism". | The ambassador, who is a former military colonel, was praised by British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who commended his "courage and patriotism". |
Deputy ambassador Chit Win is said to have taken over as charge d'affairs in London, Reuters reported, citing diplomats with knowledge of the matter. | Deputy ambassador Chit Win is said to have taken over as charge d'affairs in London, Reuters reported, citing diplomats with knowledge of the matter. |
A spokesman for the UK Foreign Office told the BBC that it was "seeking clarification on the current status of the Myanmar ambassador in London, in line with diplomatic protocol". | A spokesman for the UK Foreign Office told the BBC that it was "seeking clarification on the current status of the Myanmar ambassador in London, in line with diplomatic protocol". |
Myanmar's military seized power in the country after overthrowing the government and declared a state of emergency. | Myanmar's military seized power in the country after overthrowing the government and declared a state of emergency. |
Just days later, a protest movement began to emerge, which quickly gained momentum, leading to hundreds of thousands of people taking part in street protests. | Just days later, a protest movement began to emerge, which quickly gained momentum, leading to hundreds of thousands of people taking part in street protests. |
Last week, Ms Suu Kyi was charged with breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, which carries a term of up to 14 years in prison. | Last week, Ms Suu Kyi was charged with breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, which carries a term of up to 14 years in prison. |
Myanmar coup: How did we get here? | Myanmar coup: How did we get here? |
Myanmar in profile | Myanmar in profile |
Myanmar, also known as Burma, became independent from Britain in 1948. For much of its modern history it has been under military rule | Myanmar, 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 year | 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 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" |