Myanmar: Turkish embassy urges citizens to stay indoors

By Behlul Cetinkaya

ANKARA (AA) - Amid a military coup in Myanmar, Turkey's embassy in the Southeast Asian country warned Turkish citizens Monday not to venture outdoors or travel unless necessary.

In a written statement, the embassy in Naypyidaw noted that a state of emergency had been declared in the country and that the armed forces had seized power.

It said Vice President Myint Swe had been appointed acting president and added: "It is understood that many senior government officials were detained, television channels and mobile lines were cut across the country, and wireless internet access was restricted/cut off in some regions."

The embassy also advised the Turkish community to follow developments through local channels and avoid crowded areas.

Turkish citizens in Myanmar can reach the embassy via emergency phone lines, as well as through Twitter and Facebook, as long as the telephone lines are available.

- Coup in Myanmar

Myanmar's military announced Monday that it seized power and would rule the country for at least one year.

The military declared a state of emergency, detaining State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other senior members of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party just hours before the scheduled start of the first session of the new parliament.

It claimed the moves were being carried out due to "voter fraud" in the Nov. 8 elections which resulted in the dominance of Suu Kyi's NLD party in parliament. Critics say the military used the allegations to justify the coup.

*Contributions and writing by Sena Guler