At least 90 protesters killed in Myanmar on 'armed forces day'

Myanmar's security forces shot and killed at least 90 protesters on Saturday, news reports  said, a brutal crackdown on dissent that came as the leader of the ruling junta said the military will protect the people and strive for democracy. "Today is a day of shame for the armed forces," Dr. Sasa, a spokesman for CRPH, an anti-junta group set up by deposed lawmakers, told an online forum. "The military generals are celebrating Armed Forces Day after they just killed more than 400 innocent civilians," he said, giving a rough estimate of the toll since protests first erupted weeks ago. The number of people killed in the turmoil since the coup against Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government is now crossed 400, based on Thursday's toll and a tally kept by an activist group.

Myanmar Now said a total of at least 50 people were killed on Saturday. A military spokesman did not respond to calls seeking comment. After presiding over a military parade in the capital Naypyitaw to mark Armed Forces Day, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing reiterated a promise to hold elections, without giving any time-frame. "The army seeks to join hands with the entire nation to safeguard democracy," the general said in a live broadcast on state television, adding that authorities also sought to protect the people and restore peace across the country. "Violent acts that affect stability and security in order to make demands are inappropriate." he said.