US President Biden condemns Myanmar bloodshed

US President Joe Biden condemned the violence against anti-coup protesters in Myanmar on Sunday. "It's absolutely outrageous and based on the reporting I've gotten, an awful lot of people have been killed totally unnecessarily," US President Joe Biden told reporters.

When asked whether the US would be imposing sanctions, Biden said "we're working on that now."

Defense chiefs from 12 different countries had earlier condemned violence in Myanmar, which saw military forces open fire on anti-coup protesters, killing at least 100 people.

The US, Britain, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan issued the statement, a day after Myanmar's deadliest day of protests since the military coup in February.

"We condemn the use of lethal force against unarmed people by the Myanmar Armed Forces and associated security services," the statement read.

The military chiefs called on Myanmar's armed forces to cease violence and work to "restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar, that it has lost through its actions."

"A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting — not harming — the people it serves."

How have other leaders reacted?

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said he was "deeply shocked" by what took place.

He tweeted: "It is the task of security forces to protect the population. Instead, the military killed peaceful protesters and even children. My thoughts and sympathy are with the families of the victims."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote on Twitter: "The continuing military crackdown is unacceptable and demands a firm, unified & resolute international response."

In the United States, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a tweet that his country was "horrified by the bloodshed perpetrated by Burmese security forces, showing that the junta will sacrifice the lives of the people to serve the few.''

The EU delegation to Myanmar said Saturday would "forever stay engraved as a day of terror and dishonor."

"Far from celebrating, the Myanmar military has made yesterday a day of horror and of shame," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

UN special envoy talks to DW

The UN's special envoy to Myanmar, Tom Andrews, told DW that he believed the military leaders responsible for Saturday's massacre should face legal consequences.

"I think there should be accountability, there's no question about it, there should be judicial mechanisms in place," he said.

Andrews called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to address the escalating situation on Myanmar's streets. Although there has been opposition from permanent members Russia and China, which backed the country's military rulers, to such attempts in the past. 

"If you're on the Security Council, you have an obligation to take action in these precise circumstances," Andrews said, adding that if the global body remains deadlocked, an ad hoc "coalition" could form to impose an arms embargo on the junta.

He also condemned the killings and expressed his concern over how things could further escalate in the country.

A bloody Armed Forces Day celebration 

Myanmar's military celebrated Armed Forces Day on Saturday with parades and speeches, despite the non-stop protests against its seizure of power last month.

Estimated death tolls of Saturday's bloody events, which also saw several children killed, are difficult to independently verify.

A tally by the independent Myanmar Now news portal reported 114 people killed across 44 towns and cities, while a count by The Irrawaddy put the toll at 59 dead, among them three children aged 7, 10 and 13 years.

The total death toll since the coup is now over 420, according to local monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

Funeral services were also held on Sunday for some of the victims of Saturday's events.

"Junta forces shot machine guns into residential areas, resulting in many civilians, including six children between ten and sixteen years old, killed," AAPP said. "The fact the illegitimate military regime is targeting children is a grave act of inhumanity."

First air strikes in decades

Rebels in eastern Myanmar's Karen state said they had been targeted in airstrikes late Saturday, hours after the ethnic armed group seized a military base. Activists said that at least three people were killed, in what was the first aerial assault in 20 years in the state.

The assault targeted the Fifth Brigade of the Karen National Union (KNU), one of the country's largest armed groups, which says it represents the ethnic Karen people.

Meanwhile, protesters returned to the streets on Sunday despite Saturday's events. Demonstrations were held in Yangon and Mandalay, the country's two biggest cities, and in other areas.

"This movement against the military coup is not going to stop," said DW correspondent Dave Grunebaum. "They are just furious at the nighttime raids and the way this military is trying to terrorize the civilian population."

In recent days, the junta has portrayed the demonstrators as the ones perpetrating violence for their sporadic use of Molotov cocktails. On Saturday, some protesters in Yangon were seen carrying bows and arrows.

The military has said its use of force has been justified to stop what it has called rioting.

lc, jsi/mm (dpa, AP, AFP)