The death toll from the protests against the military coup in Myanmar has risen to 320, after at least 4 people were killed and 10 wounded by bullets by security forces, while the Military Council held a military parade attended by a high-ranking Russian official.

The Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners said the victims were caught in protests in the commercial capital of Yangon.

Despite the high death toll, demonstrations condemning the military coup and calling for the return of civilian rule continue.

This comes in light of international pressure on the military council, as the United States and Britain imposed sanctions on companies run by the army, and Washington described the step as a response to what it called the brutal repression practiced by the army against civilians.

Activists called for new anti-coup protests over the weekend, coinciding with the Military Council's celebration of Armed Forces Day.

The country has been witnessing a wave of unrest since the military ousted the government of Aung San Sochi from power in the February 1 coup, which led to the outbreak of a nationwide uprising during which protesters called for the restoration of democracy.

About 3 thousand people have been arrested since the coup, according to a local human rights organization, but the ruling military council released more than 600 detainees from "Insein" prison earlier this week.

On Friday, an official at this prison confirmed the release of 322 people arrested during the coup protests.

Part of the Myanmar army's celebration of "Armed Forces Day" (Reuters)

Armed Forces Day

These developments come as the army celebrates the "Armed Forces Day", in which it parades its forces in a military parade held annually.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin attended the event, the day after his meeting with the leader of the military council, General Min Aung Hling, according to the Russian news agency "INTERFAX".

Fomin hailed Myanmar as a "trustworthy ally" and a "strategic partner" in the region.

Fears increased that this day would turn into new confrontations, as the security forces continued their crackdown against activists, protesters and political allies of the isolated leader Sochi.