Myanmar coup: US orders some diplomats to leave as unrest grows
- The US State Department has told non-essential government workers and their dependents to leave as a military crackdown on anti-coup protesters continues
- The civilian death toll has now crossed 520, with world powers ramping up their condemnation of the violence
Daily protests demanding the restoration of the elected government have been met with a military crackdown that has left more than 520 civilians dead in the weeks since the February 1 coup.
The junta’s violent response has triggered international condemnation – and threats of retaliation from some of Myanmar’s myriad ethnic armed groups.
The US State Department said it was ordering the departure of “non-emergency US government employees and their family members”. The decision was taken to protect the safety and security of staff and their families, it added.
French renewable energy company Voltalia on Wednesday said it was withdrawing from Myanmar and would “do everything possible to ensure the health, safety, and security of its 43 employees on site, including 39 Myanmarese and its subcontractors during this period”.
A lawyer for Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday said her client appeared in good health during a video meeting, in which only the case against her was discussed.