At least 20 people were killed in Myanmar on Monday after another day of unrest and protests against the junta that took power six weeks ago, a local monitoring group said.
The country has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to return to democracy.
Security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds against protesters in near-daily repression across the country.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a local monitoring group that monitors arrests and deaths, said at least 20 people were killed in Monday’s violence.
“The victims are increasing drastically,” reads a statement, adding that more than 180 people have died since the February 1 coup.
While most of Monday’s deaths were against coup protesters, some were civilians who “did not even take part in the protests”, it reads.
Most died in central Myanmar, while at least three died in Yangon’s commercial center.
The deaths in Yangon included two women in their homes who were shot when security forces opened fire on the streets, according to AAPP.
AFP independently confirmed eleven deaths.
Sunday was the deadliest day since the coup so far, with AFP confirming that at least 44 people in the country have been killed in unrest.
Six townships in Yangon have been placed under martial law following Sunday’s violence.
Anyone arrested there has been tried by military tribunals, rather than civilian courts, with sentences ranging from three years of hard labor to execution.