'Silent strike' empties Myanmar's main cities

Citizens across Myanmar undertook a "silent strike" on Friday leaving highways, shopping areas and market places empty in protest at the current military government.

Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, saw starkly empty markets and the usually bustling highways were deathly quiet.

The striking scene was also replicated in Mandalay, the country's second largest city.

The so-called silent strike is due to last six hours, ending late afternoon Friday, and is seen as a way to safely express opposition to the ruling military authorities.

The military-installed government described as “fake news” reports that its troops were involved in a widely reported massacre in the country’s northwest in which soldiers allegedly rounded up and killed 11 civilians whose charred bodies were later discovered by fellow villagers.

Photos and video of smoldering corpses in Done Taw village in Sagaing region were circulated widely.

The country was already recoiling after a military vehicle deliberately rammed a small protest group on Sunday, injuring several young people with unconfirmed news reports that up to five people were killed.