Myanmar junta imposes curfew and bans meetings as protests swell

A police truck sprays water to a crowd of protesters in Naypyitaw on Monday (AP)

Myanmar’s new military rulers on Monday signalled their intention to crack down on opponents of their takeover by effectively banning peaceful public protests in the country’s two biggest cities.

The restrictions were ordered after police used water cannons against hundreds of protesters in the capital, Naypyitaw, who were demanding the military hand power back to elected officials, in one of many demonstrations around the country.