Police have fired on protesters in Myanmar, killing at least 18, the UN human rights office, says, on the deadliest day of anti-coup rallies.
Deaths were reported in several cities, including Yangon, Dawei, and Mandalay, as police used live rounds and tear gas.
Security forces began the violent crackdown on Saturday, after weeks of mostly peaceful protests against the 1 February military takeover.
Government leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, were overthrown and detained.
From Sunday, social media footage showed protesters running away as police charged at them, makeshift roadblocks being erected, and several people being led away covered in blood.
The police crackdown was expanded on Sunday as coup leaders sought to quash a civil disobedience campaign that has shown no sign of ending.
The people did not retreat.
As I arrived on Hledan road in Yangon, an ambulance passed me. I heard one man had been shot. I ran to the location, and when I arrived, the volunteers had already lifted him into the ambulance.
I saw blood on the road and a homemade shield next to it. The bullet had passed through the shield.
A few minutes later, more protesters occupied the road, blocking the area with shields and carts and readying themselves to take on the police.
Many more arrived, sitting down on the road and chanting. There were so many I couldn’t see the back of the crowd.
Two people were shot dead here, and one was severely injured. But the people did not retreat.
