Myanmar police escalate crackdown on coup protesters

Police stand in formation blocking a main road in Mandalay (AP)

Police in Myanmar have escalated their crackdown on demonstrators against this month’s military takeover, deploying early and in force as protesters sought to assemble in the country’s two biggest cities.

Myanmar’s crisis took a dramatic turn on Friday when the country’s ambassador to the United Nations declared his loyalty to the ousted civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi during a special session of the General Assembly, and called on the world to pressure the military to cede power.