Hundreds of Myanmar protesters who had been trapped overnight by security forces have now been able to get out.
Around 200 people in a district of Yangon had on Monday been blocked from leaving a four-street area in the Sanchaung area of the city on Monday.
According to United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres, many of those trapped had been women who were marching in support of International Women’s Day.
Explosions were heard from the area, believed to be made by stun grenades.
The UN had appealing to the military for their “safe release”, with Mr Guterres urging “maximum restraint”.
Early on Tuesday, one protester told the BBC that he was able to leave at around 06:30 local time (00:00 GMT). He said security forces had left the area early in the morning.
He added that 40 people were arrested overnight, but the rest of them remained hidden until the morning and were able to leave.
Another protester tweeted on Tuesday morning that she had “arrived home safe…[after being] at a place in Sanchaung the entire night”, adding that “all who were hiding with me are safe”.
Mass protests have been seen across Myanmar since the military seized power on 1 February.
More than 54 people have been killed by security forces in demonstrations so far.
Source:Fiilafmonline/BBC
