Myanmar's military has seized power following the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and President Win Minn.Simultaneously a state of emergency has been declared for one year.
The coup came after tensions between the civilian government and the military escalated after the disputed November 2020 elections.
Hours after Suu Kyi's arrest, military television confirmed that the army had declared a state of emergency for a year.
The military said in a statement that such measures were necessary to maintain stability in Myanmar. The country's power has been handed over to Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing.
Earlier on Monday (February 1), the Myanmar army detained NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Minn in a raid.
Suu Kyi's party, the NLD, won enough seats to form a government in the November election. However, the military alleges that Suu Kyi's party won the by rigging the election. Top NLD leaders, including Suu Kyi, were arrested on the same charges.
The newly elected lower house of parliament was scheduled to meet for the first time on Monday. The army, on the other hand, called for a suspension of the parliament session.
A BBC correspondent said army patrols have been spotted in the capital Naypyi daw and on the streets of the main city Yangon. Telephone and internet lines have been cut off in major cities.
The family members said that the soldiers went to the houses of the Chief Ministers of different provinces of the country and detained them.