Myanmar police fire rubber bullets, water cannons

Police in Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw fired gunshots into the air on Tuesday to disperse demonstrations against the ruling military, witnesses said, as protesters defied bans on gatherings amid nationwide outrage at last week's coup.

Libby Hogan reports.

Protesters in Myanmar filled the streets on Tuesday despite a military ban on gatherings, curfews, and closed roads.

It was the fourth day of protests against last week's military coup.

In the capital Naypyitaw, police fired gunshots in the air to disperse the crowd, witnesses said, and media later reported police fired rubber bullets and a doctor said at least three were hurt.

Earlier they had used a water cannon for the second day in a row on protesters.

There were also more than two dozen arrests in the second largest city Mandalay by the afternoon, including one journalist, according to local media reports.

In the largest city, Yangon, people clapped and held a three-finger salute of resistance, only meters away from police barricades.

Locals said bridges connecting central Yangon were shut early, reviving memories of what life was like under a half a century of military rule that lasted until 2015.

In the crowd, Khin Min Soe said the protests were a fight for their future.

"Before the military coup, every day was a fresh morning in our country, motivated and livable.

After the coup, it turned into a mess." A day earlier, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, now leader of the military junta, spoke on state TV for the first time since they seized control.

He focused on justifying their takeover on the grounds of election fraud - claims that have been rejected by the election commission - and said they would form a quote "true and disciplined democracy," different to previous eras of military rule.

He added that any lawless wrongdoers should be prevented or removed.

The military has promised a new vote but given no time frame, only that a state of emergency will last for one year.