Youths and LGBT supporters protest in Myanmar

Dozens of students and LGBT supporters chanted pro-democracy slogans and marched through Dawei city in Myanmar on Thursday to protest against the recent military coup and crackdown.

Protesters held up flags of the National League for Democracy, a rainbow flag representing the LGBT community and banners reading "Fight for Democracy" and "let's defense together for our safety".

Myanmar’s security forces have cracked down violently on protests against a Feb. 1 coup that reversed a decade of progress toward democracy in the Southeast Asian country and ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners says that at least 275 people have been killed in connection with the crackdown.

In a rare conciliatory gesture by the military that appeared aimed at placating the protest movement, hundreds of people imprisoned for demonstrating were released on Wednesday.

However, more than 2,000 people remain in custody or have charges against them outstanding.