UN warns of Myanmar violence, as protesters create gridlock

Protesters urge huge turnout on Wednesday to shatter coup leaders’ claims that they have widespread public support.

Tom Andrews, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, has said he is “terrified” of an escalation in violence in Myanmar as protesters calling on the military to leave on Wednesday stepped up their campaign of mass disobedience against the coup. Protesters are calling for big rallies on Wednesday to shatter the army’s claims that it has widespread backing for the February 1 coup and that many people supported its move to seize power from civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was returned to office in a landslide in elections held in November. The UN’s Andrews said that he had received reports of troop movements around the country and was worried the protesters were facing real danger.