US President Joe Biden said that his administration decided to impose sanctions on the leaders responsible for the February 1 coup in Myanmar, and any entity associated with them.
Biden called - in a speech delivered on Wednesday - the coup leaders to relinquish power and immediately release the democratic leaders in the country, describing their steps as an "attack on democracy" and a "deep concern" for the United States.
He added that Washington will set the first set of sanctions targets this week and will be ready to take additional measures.
The US President announced that the leaders of the coup would be prevented from accessing billions of dollars in the United States, and that the Myanmar government’s funds would be frozen without neglecting health care support there.
The Myanmar military under the leadership of Min Aung Hling overthrew the elected civilian leader, State Counselor Aung San Sochi, early this month, and she was arrested on allegations of fraud in elections held last year in which her party won an overwhelming majority, while the election commission denied the army's allegations.
Today, protests spread in different parts of Myanmar, after demonstrations on Tuesday were described as the most violent against the coup.
Thousands attended protests in Yangon, the main city, and in the capital, Naypyidaw, hundreds of government employees staged a rally in support of the growing civil disobedience campaign.