Reuters
)An official from deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party has died in custody less than a day after being arrested.
Zaw Myat Linn was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning before dying later in the day, according to a former member of parliament.
Warning this story contains graphic images that may disturb some readers.
Ba Myo Thein, an MP of Myanmar's dissolved upper house, said Mr Myat Linn was detained by security forces at around 1:30am.
He is the second party figure to die in detention in two days, after the death of ex-campaign manager Khin Maung Latt, who died after being arrested on Saturday night.
The latest cause of death was not known, but Mr Myo Thein said Mr Myat Linn had "been participating continuously in the protests".
The government's crackdown has left more than 50 protesters dead but has failed to slow the resistance against the February 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Ms Suu Kyi.
Reuters
)Police officer refuses to shoot, resigns
A former police officer who refused to shoot at protesters with a submachine gun has fled the country and told his story to the media.
Police lance corporal Tha Peng said he was ordered to shoot at protesters to disperse them in the Myanmar town of Khampat on February 27 but he refused.
"The next day, an officer called to ask me if I will shoot," he said. The 27-year-old refused again, and then resigned from the force.
On March 1, he said he left his home and family behind in Khampat and travelled for three days, mostly at night to avoid detection, before crossing into India's north-eastern Mizoram state.
AFP: Myitkyina News Journal
)"I had no choice," Tha Peng told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday, speaking via a translator.
Tha Peng said he and six colleagues all disobeyed the order from a superior officer.
On Tuesday, around one thousand demonstrators defied the wishes of military authorities by taking to the streets of Mandalay.
They carried homemade shields bearing images of the three-fingered salute, the movement's symbol of defiance.
Those who marched gathered for just a few minutes before dispersing to avoid a possible confrontation with riot police.
Another group made a mobile protest, driving through the streets on motorbikes.
The protesters have adapted their tactics in response to escalating violence from security forces, including the firing of live ammunition at crowds.
In what has become a daily occurrence, protest marches were held in cities and towns across the country, including Ye, in Mon State and Kyaukpadaung in central Myanmar.
Reuters
)More than 1,850 people have been arrested in connection with the coup according to the Myanmar-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
Local media shackled by military
Dozens of journalists have been arrested, including Thein Zaw of The Associated Press, who has been charged under a public order law that carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.
The military government on Monday imposed a major curb on media coverage of the crisis.
It announced that the licenses of five local media outlets — Mizzima, DVB, Khit Thit Media, Myanmar Now and 7Day News — had been cancelled.
All five had been offering extensive coverage of the protests, often with livestreaming video online.
The offices of Myanmar Now were raided by the authorities on Monday before the measure was announced.
UK ambassador ordered home
Meanwhile, Myanmar recalled its British ambassador on Tuesday, a day after he urged the military junta to release detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The MRTV news channel said Kyaw Swar Min had released the statement without following orders.
"Diplomacy is the only response and answer to the current impasse," wrote Mr Swar Min, adding that President U Win Myint should be freed, along with Ms Suu Kyi.
But Myanmar's military leaders said the diplomat had gone beyond the accepted boundaries of his duties in London.
"Since he did not conduct himself in accordance with given responsibilities, an order [is issued] to summon and transfer him back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," MRTV news channel said.
Last month, Myanmar's junta fired its United Nations ambassador for breaking ranks to denounce the military's ouster of Ms Suu Kyi, as police stepped up a crackdown on protesters across the country.
ABC/wires
