(ANSA) - ROME, MARCH 14 - At least five protesters killed today in Burma, where for days the people in the streets have continued to challenge the military regime.
Burma has been in chaos since the army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi from power in the February 1 coup, sparking a mass uprising that saw hundreds of thousands of people protest every day for a return to democracy.
The junta has repeatedly justified its seizure of power by citing widespread electoral fraud in the November elections, won by the party of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.
In response, a group of elected parliamentarians, many of whom are in hiding, formed an umbrella parliament called the Committee for Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) to denounce the military regime.
Today they released a statement stating that protesters have the "full right to defend themselves" under the country's criminal code against security forces that "harm and cause violence".
More than 80 people were killed in the clashes, but the number could drastically increase after today's violence: security forces opened fire in Hlaing Tharyar, one of the largest townships in Rangoon.
Some protesters, holding sticks and knives, reacted while others fled, taking the wounded away and loading them into cars.
A private hospital doctor who took in injuries confirmed the use of both live and rubber bullets.
(HANDLE).