Myanmar coup: Woman shot during anti-coup protests dies

A young woman has become the first protester to die in the anti-coup demonstrations in Myanmar after she was shot in the head.

Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing, 20, was injured earlier last week when police tried to disperse protesters using water cannon, rubber bullets and live rounds.

Her wound was consistent with one from live ammunition, rights groups say.

Myanmar has seen days of protests following a coup which overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government.

"I feel really sad and have nothing to say," her brother Ye Htut Aung told news agency Reuters.

The hospital in Nya Pyi Taw confirmed her death at 11:00 local time (04:30 GMT), adding that her body will be examined by a board at 15:00.

"We will look for justice and move forward," the doctor told AFP news agency, adding that staff had faced immense pressure since she was taken to their intensive care unit.

Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing, who turned 20 after she was shot, had been on live support since taken to hospital on 9 February.

She had taken part in a protest in the South-east Asian nation which saw police use water cannon against protesters who refused to retreat.

According to BBC Burmese, who spoke to an unnamed medical officer shortly after the injury took place, she suffered a serious head injury.

Myanmar is now in a year-long state of emergency, after the military seized power following a general election which saw Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy win by a landslide.

The military claim the election results are fraudulent, and demand a rerun of the vote.

(BBC)