Myanmar police fire stun grenades as Southeast Asian ministers aim for talks

Myanmar police fired stun grenades to disperse protesters in the city of Yangon on Tuesday, witnesses said, as foreign ministers of neighbouring countries were due to hold talks with the military in an effort to quell deadly violence.

The talks will come two days after the bloodiest day of unrest since the military removed Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government a month ago, unleashing anger and mass street protests across Myanmar.

Protesters, many wearing hard hats and clutching makeshift shields, had gathered behind barricades in different parts of Yangon to chant slogans against military rule.

Crowds also gathered in other parts of the country, media reported.

“If we’re oppressed, there will be explosion. If we’re hit, we’ll hit back,” the crowd chanted at one Yangon protest before police moved in to break up it up with stun grenades, witnesses said.

There were no reports of any injuries.

At least 21 protesters have been killed since the turmoil began. The army said one policemen was killed.

via Reuters