Further army clampdown feared in Myanmar after Aung San Suu Kyi detained

Civilian leader urges the public to protest against any return to a military dictatorship

Myanmar has been placed on knife edge, with activists fearing a further clampdown after the military detained Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian leaders in early morning raids and took direct control of the country in a coup.

A statement attributed to Aung San Suu Kyi said the military - which directly ruled Myanmar for more than 50 years - was trying to reimpose a dictatorship. I urge people not to accept this, to respond and wholeheartedly to protest against the coup by the military," it said.