Myanmar military hires PR agent to explain 'real situation' to west

Former Israeli spy says generals have been misunderstood' as police continue to fire on protesters

Accused of crimes against humanity, an illegal government takeover and gunning down protesters, Myanmar's military is seeking to rebrand itself in foreign capitals, recruiting a former Israeli military intelligence official turned lobbyist with a record defending controversial clients.

Ari Ben-Menashe, a Tehran-born, Israeli-Canadian lobbyist, was hired by the Tatmadaw this week to assist in explaining the real situation in the country", according to a consultancy agreement reported by Foreign Lobby, an outlet that tracks foreign government influence operations in Washington.