U.S. to sanction Myanmar military leaders
PLEASE NOTE: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT
US President Joe Biden approved an executive order on Wednesday to slap sanctions on the leaders of Myanmar's coup.
The measures will target military leaders, their business interests, and their close family members.
Washington is also taking steps to block the generals having access to $1 billion in Myanmar government funds held in the United States.
The February 1 coup and detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi presents Biden with his first major international crisis.
Biden said that while they would be freezing assets that benefit the Burmese government, they would maintain support for healthcare and civil areas that benefit the people directly.
"The people of Burma are making their voices heard and the world is watching. We'll be ready to impose additional measures and we'll continue to work with our international partners to urge other nations to join us in these efforts."
Despite the U.S. action, analysts say it’s unlikely Myanmar’s neighbours will cut ties with the military given the country’s strategic importance.
Meanwhile, there were a new wave of arrests in Myanmar on Wednesday night.
Those detained included Kyaw Tint Swe - a close aide of Suu Kyi - according to an official from the National League of Democracy.
Kyi Toe - an information committee member - said four other people linked to the previous government had been taken from their homes.
He said officials from the electoral commission had also been detained.
Myanmar authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Reuters was unable to confirm the arrests.
The arrests come as a woman fights for her life - after being shot in the head on Tuesday when police cracked down on protests in the capital Naypidaw.
The shooting of 19 year old Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing is the first known serious casualty of the ongoing protests.
Protests spilled into a sixth straight day on Thursday, with people taking to the streets to express their anger again at the military and demanding a return to civilian rule.
Some held posters of Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing
