Myanmar: Britons urged to leave ‘as soon as possible’ as violence escalates

British citizens have been told to flee Myanmar “as soon as possible” following the deadly escalation of violence in the country.

The Foreign Office has updated its advice to British nationals, telling them to leave the country “by commercial means” at the earliest opportunity.

It said: “This change in the level of advice follows a significant increase in the level of recent violence on 27 March.”

It was reported at least 114 unarmed civilians - including a five-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl - were killed by Myanmar's security forces in the bloodiest day since the military coup on February 1, when security forces arrested the civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

People took to the street once again on Saturday, in defiance of warning they could be shot “in the head and back”, to protest against the military takeover and call for the return of democracy.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the regime had hit a “new low” on Saturday as soldiers and police sought to suppress protests on what was the nation’s Armed Forces Day.

The United Nations secretary-general António Guterres moved to condemn to crackdown over the weekend.

He tweeted: “I am deeply shocked by the killing of dozens of civilians, including children & young people, by security forces in Myanmar today.

“The continuing military crackdown is unacceptable and demands a firm, unified & resolute international response.”

Dan Chugg, the British ambassador in Yangon, said that the “security forces have disgraced themselves by shooting unarmed civilians”.

“At a time of economic crisis, Covid and a worsening humanitarian situation, today’s military parade and extrajudicial killings speak volumes for the priorities of the military junta,” he said.

The European Union’s delegation to Myanmar said the 76th armed forces day was “a day of terror and dishonour”, adding: “The killing of unarmed civilians, including children, are indefensible acts.”

The coup started on February 1 when the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. Suppression of the resistance against the junta has grown steadily more forceful, and with it so has the death toll.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.