UN chief Antonio Guterres has called for the safe release of hundreds of Myanmar protesters "barricaded" inside apartment complexes in Yangon, where security forces are violently cracking down on anti-junta demonstrations, his spokesman said.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since a 1 February coup ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and triggered mass protests against the new military junta. "As far as I know we've not had any contact," with the individual, Mr Dujarric said. "But we'll continue calling people who may have contact with him."
Mr Dujarric said that UN officials, including its special envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, "have been in contact with elected parliamentarians as part of ongoing contacts with key stakeholders." A poignant image in local media showed a Catholic nun in a white habit on her knees in the street, pleading with police to show restraint.
That followed the closure of banks, stores, shopping malls and some clothing factories after an appeal by trade unions for a general strike to bring the economy to a standstill. Physicians for Human Rights said it was appalled by security forces occupying public hospitals, calling the move a violation of international law.