Dawei

Yesterday was the bloodiest day in Myanmar since a military junta seized power there one month ago. According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, at least 18 people were killed and more than 30 wounded after security forces fired live ammunition into crowds of peaceful demonstrators in several cities across the country.

Security forces in Myanmar opened fire and made mass arrests on Feb. 28 as they sought to break up protests against the military's seizure of power, and a U.N. human rights official said it had "credible information" that at least 18 people were killed and 30 were wounded.

Myanmar's junta cut the nation's internet and deployed extra troops around the country on Feb. 15 as it intensified a crackdown on anti-coup protests, but defiant demonstrators again took to the streets.

Bodies and aircraft debris were found in the sea off the southern coast of Myanmar yesterday by ships searching for a military plane that went missing with 122 soldiers, family members and crew on board.

A Myanmar military plane carrying 116 people went missing on June 7 between the southern city of Myeik and Yangon, according to the office of the army chief and an airport source.

"Communication was lost suddenly at about 1:35 pm (07:05 GMT) when it reached about 20 miles west of Dawei town," the commander-in-chief's office said in a statement.