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The UN statement came as it transpired that US President Joe Biden’s administration is considering an executive order in response to the takeover.

Other possible action included targeted sanctions on individuals and on entities controlled by the military, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told a news briefing.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), meanwhile, said it would be guided by its membership in deciding whether to recognise the military regime as Myanmar’s legitimate government.

The fund, which transferred about $US350 million in emergency coronavirus financing to Myanmar days before the coup, is watching the situation closely and is “very concerned about the impact of recent events” and their impact on Myanmar’s people, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said on Thursday.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged on Wednesday to mobilise enough international pressure on Myanmar’s military “to make sure that this coup fails.”

In the agreed statement, the council “stressed the need to uphold democratic institutions and processes, refrain from violence, and fully respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.”

The UN “encouraged the pursuance of dialogue and reconciliation in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar,” the statement said.

A spokesperson for China’s UN mission said Beijing hoped the key messages in the Security Council statement would be heeded by all sides.

“As a friendly neighbour of Myanmar, China hopes that all parties in Myanmar will put the aspiration and interests of the people first, properly handle differences through dialogue within the constitutional and legal framework and safeguard political and social stability,” the spokesperson said.

“The international community should create a sound external environment for Myanmar to properly resolve the differences.”

Facebook blocked

Earlier on Thursday, the junta blocked Facebook in an attempt to shut off an important channel for opposition as sporadic protests flared.

In a show of defiance to the generals, about a dozen ousted lawmakers elected in a disputed November 8 ballot convened a symbolic parliamentary session in the quarters where they have been staying since the takeover.

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Small protests took place in the main city Yangon and elsewhere, with activists saying three protesters had been arrested – among around 150 people who have been detained since the coup, according to one rights group.

Doctors were also spearheading a campaign of civil disobedience.

But in a country with a bloody history of crackdowns on demonstrations, there was no mass outpouring of opposition to the coup on the streets.

Opposition to the junta has emerged very strongly on Facebook, the country’s main social media platform which underpins communications for business and government.

The Ministry of Communications and Information said Facebook – used by half of Myanmar’s more than 53 million people – would be blocked until Sunday to limit the spread of “fake news and misinformation”. Facebook’s WhatsApp messaging service was also blocked.

Demand for VPN services to evade the blockade surged 4300 per cent, said Simon Migliano, head of research at Top10VPN.com.

Facebook was still available sporadically and demonstrators in the second city of Mandalay used it to livestream the first street protest since the coup.

Three people were arrested after the protest, student groups said. Reuters was unable to contact police for comment.

A dozen or so people also staged a protest in the main city of Yangon.

At least 147 people have been detained since the coup, including activists, lawmakers and officials from Suu Kyi’s government, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said in a statement.

Other signs of anger have emerged. For a third night, people in Yangon and other cities banged on pots and pans and honked car horns.

“Lights are shining in the dark,” said Min Ko Naing, a veteran of past campaigns against military rule, in a call to action. “We need to show how many people are against this unfair coup.”

Suu Kyi has not been seen since her arrest along with other party leaders. Police have filed charges against her of illegally importing and using six walkie-talkie radios found at her home and she has been detained until February 15.

The daughter of the former British colony’s independence hero Aung San and the longtime leader of its democracy movement, Suu Kyi spent about 15 years under house arrest between 1989 and 2010. She was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1991.

She remains hugely popular at home despite damage to her international reputation over the plight of Muslim Rohingya refugees.

The new junta has declared a one-year state of emergency, but Min Aung Hlaing told a business group on Wednesday that he could stay beyond that.

The NLD won about 80 per cent of the parliament seats in the November election and trounced a pro-military party, according to the election commission. The army refused to accept the result, citing unsubstantiated allegations of fraud.

Reuters