Troops fired grenades with anti-coup protesters on Friday in the town of Bago, near Yangon, witnesses and news reported. They said at least 10 people were killed and their bodies piled inside a pagoda.
Myanmar Now News and Mawkun, an online news magazine, said at least 20 people had been killed and many injured. It was not possible to obtain a precise tax because the troops surrounded the area near the pagoda, they said.
More than 600 people have been killed by security forces who cracked down on protests, according to an activist group. The country stopped because of protests and large-scale strikes against the military government.
“The reason for the reduction of protests is due to the cooperation of people who want peace, which we appreciate,” said Zaw Min Tun. “We ask people to cooperate with the security forces and help them.”
He said the army had killed 248 people and denied using automatic weapons. Sixteen police officers were also killed, he said.
The activist group of the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners said that on Thursday evening 614 people, including 48 children, were killed by the security forces from the coup. More than 2,800 have been detained, he said.
“We are humiliated by their courage and dignity,” a group of 18 Myanmar ambassadors said of the protesters in a joint statement.
“We stand together to support the hopes and aspirations of all who believe in a free, fair, peaceful and democratic Myanmar. Violence must end, all political prisoners must be released and democracy must be restored.”
The declaration was signed by the ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, the EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland and several other European nations.
“We respect the suggestions of neighboring countries and big countries and strong people in politics,” said Zaw Min Tun. He also accused members of the National League for Democracy of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi of arson and said the protest campaign was funded by foreign money, but did not provide details.
Suu Kyi and many of her party colleagues have been in custody since the coup.
Zaw Min Tun said reports that some members of the international community did not acknowledge the military government were “fake news”.
“We cooperate with foreign countries and work together with neighboring countries,” the spokesman said.
Myanmar lawmakers on Friday urged the United Nations Security Council to take action against the military.
“Our people are ready to pay any cost to regain their rights and freedom,” said Zin Mar Aung, who has been appointed foreign minister for a group of ousted lawmakers. She urged Council members to apply both direct and indirect pressure to the junta.
“Myanmar is on the verge of state failure, of state collapse,” Richard Horsey, senior adviser in Myanmar with the International Crisis Group, told the informal UN meeting, Myanmar’s first public discussion of council members.
UN special envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener wanted to visit the country, but said she was turned down by the generals.
She said on Friday that she had arrived in Bangkok, the capital of neighboring Thailand.
“I regret that Tatmadaw told me yesterday that I am not ready to receive me,” Schraner Burgener said on Twitter, referring to the Myanmar army. “I am ready for dialogue. Violence never leads to lasting peaceful solutions.”