The UK government is “very concerned” about a military coup in Myanmar, a minister has said.
An announcement on military-controlled Myawaddy TV on the morning the country’s new Parliament session was scheduled to begin, said there will instead be a new election at the end of a one-year state of emergency following the coup in Myanmar.
The country's civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other senior politicians have been arrested as part of the military take-over.
It prompted her political party - the National League for Democracy - to call on the people of Myanmar to oppose the coup, claiming the military actions were unjustified and went again the will of voters.
There were protests in Thailand and Japan as a result.
Social care minister Helen Whately said they were monitoring the situation closely after the country’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior politicians were arrested.
“It is clearly an extremely worrying situation in Myanmar. We are monitoring the situation closely,” she told Sky News.
“We are very concerned about it. We clearly support democracy, support free and fair elections. We will hear from the Foreign Secretary later. The government will be putting out a position.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he condemned the coup "and unlawful imprisonment of civilians, including Aung San Suu Kyi, in Myanmar.
He tweeted: “The vote of the people must be respected and civilian leaders released.”
Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, said the UK condemns the state of emergency in Myanmar and the unlawful detention of figures in the civilian government and civil society by the military.
Mr Raab added: "The democratically expressed wishes of the people of Myanmar must be respected and the National Assembly peacefully reconvened."
The United States is considering its position and sanctions are one option which is being considered.
