The violence has forced people determined to resist a return to military rule after a decade of tentative steps towards democracy to think up novel ways to make their stand.

People in nearly 20 places across the country staged candlelight protests on Saturday night and into Sunday, from the main city of Yangon to small communities in Kachin state in the north and the southernmost town of Kawthaung, according to a tally of social media posts.

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Hundreds of people in the second city of Mandalay, including many medical staff in white coats, marched before sunrise in a “Dawn protest”, video posted by the Mizzima news portal showed.

“Failure of the military regime, our cause our cause … federal democracy, our cause our cause,” the crowd chanted as the sky was beginning to brighten and birds called from the trees lining the otherwise deserted streets.

Protesters in some places were joined by Buddhist monks holding candles while some people used candles to make the shape of the three-fingered protest salute.

Others came out later on Sunday, including the crowd in Monywa, where police opened fire.

“Sniper, sniper,” people can be heard shouting in a video clip soon after the man was shot in the head and more shots rang out.

The spokesman for the junta was not available for comment but has previously said security forces have used force only when necessary.

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Mother grieves for ethnic Chinese son killed in one of Myanmar’s bloodiest protests

Mother grieves for ethnic Chinese son killed in one of Myanmar’s bloodiest protests

With the latest killing, the death toll since the coup rose to at least to 248, based on a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group. The military has said at two policemen have been killed in the protests.

Meanwhile, Australia’s foreign ministry confirmed on Sunday it was providing consular assistance to two of its nationals in Myanmar.

Although the ministry did not provide any further details, it is understood business consultants Matthew O’Kane and Christa Avery, a dual Canadian-Australian citizen, are under house arrest after trying to leave the country on a relief flight on Friday.

A third Australian who was arrested a week after the putsch – economist Sean Turnell – also remains in custody.

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Western countries have repeatedly condemned the coup and the violence. Asian neighbours, who have for years avoided criticising each other, have also begun speaking out.

The military has shown no sign of being pressed into backtracking on its coup, which derailed a slow transition to democracy in a country that was under strict military rule from a 1962 coup until the generals initiated reforms a decade ago.

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The islands are near some of the world’s most important shipping routes, in waters where China and India seek to project their power. Neither of the Asian giants has spoken out strongly against the coup and the violence.

The state-run Kyemon newspaper prominently featured a quote from independence hero Aung San, the deposed leader’s father, who in 1947 said: “It is everyone’s duty to sacrifice their lives and defend and fight back against foreign countries’ insults.”

Suu Kyi, 75, faces accusations of bribery and other crimes that could see her banned from politics and jailed if convicted. Her lawyer says the charges are trumped up.

Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse