Yangon: Several people have been injured after a military truck rammed into a crowd of protesters in Myanmar’s commercial capital, Yangon.
Eyewitnesses told local media that the soldiers then opened fire on some fleeing protesters, and beat others.
The United Nations in Myanmar has condemned the incident, issuing a statement slamming the “reported attack on a number of unarmed civilians in Kyimyindaing Township, Yangon, in which a vehicle belonging to security forces rammed into protesters who were then fired upon with live ammunition leading to deaths and injuries to numerous people.”
The US Embassy also reacted, saying it was “horrified by reports that security forces opened fire against, ran over, and killed several peaceful protesters this morning in Yangon.”
“We support the right of the people of Burma to protest peacefully,” the embassy added.
The incident comes as Myanmar awaits verdicts in trials of deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who faces nearly a dozen charges including incitement and violation of Covid-19 protocols. She has rejected all allegations.
