Myanmar's army chief has insisted that a military coup to oust the country's civilian leaders was justified by "voter fraud", but pledged to hand back power after elections.
In his first televised speech since last week's power grab, General Min Aung Hlaing said the country's election commission and civilian leaders had failed to properly investigate allegations of rigging in November's election.
"In order to maintain and protect the democratic system, Tatmataw (the armed forces) in line with the 2008 constitution, declared a state of emergency," he said.
The army has announced a one-year state of emergency and has imposed martial law in parts of Mandalay, sections of Yangon and other townships following nationwide demonstrations against the coup.
But Min Aung Hlaing, handed sweeping powers following the coup, insisted that the new military junta would be "different" from the army's previous 49-year reign, which ended in 2011.
"After the tasks of the emergency period are completed, free and fair multi-party general elections will be held according to the constitution," he said.
"The winning party will be transferred state duty according to democratic standards."
The general said that foreign, economic and administrative policy would not change under military rule.
The coup, in which civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and dozens of other members of her National League for Democracy party were detained, ended a decade of partial civilian rule in Myanmar and triggered international condemnation.
Earlier Britain's envoy said it had submitted a request for a special session of the UN Human Rights Council to address the crisis in Myanmar.
Ambassador Julian Braithwaite told an organisational meeting of the Geneva forum that it was making the request together with the European Union.
"This is in response to the state of emergency imposed in Myanmar and the arbitrary detention of democratically elected politicians and civil society by the military. This has grave implications for human rights in the country," he said.
Meanwhile, police have used water cannon on anti-coup protesters in Myanmar's capital, according to witnesses.
"Police used water cannon to clear the (road)," a Naypyidaw resident who had joined the protest told AFP.
A photographer also witnessed the incident, the first reported use of water cannon against protesters since rallies kicked off three days ago.
Massive crowds joined anti-coup protests across Myanmar as workers went on a nationwide strike, demanding the release of ousted leader Ms Suu Kyi and the return of democracy.
In the commercial capital, Yangon, some estimates on the ground put protest numbers at hundreds of thousands, kicking off a third straight day of rallies following last week's coup.
"Down with military dictatorship" and "Release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and arrested people," the protesters chanted as they marched in the streets.
Some held signs saying "save Myanmar" and "we want democracy" while others rode on the back of trucks singing revolutionary songs.
"This is a work day, but we aren't going to work even if our salary will be cut," one protester, 28-year-old garment factory worker, Hnin Thazin, told AFP.
In Myanmar's second largest city, Mandalay, thousands had also gathered by mid-morning, many waving red flags and clutching photos of Ms Suu Kyi.
Protests were also building in the capital Naypyidaw, with many riding around on motorbikes and honking car horns, while major rallies were also reported in other townships.
Rallies over the weekend were largely peaceful, but local media reported that in the southeastern city of Myawaddy, police fired warning shots in the air to disperse a group of protesters.
The generals justified the coup by claiming fraud in last November's elections, which the NLD won in a landslide.
The junta has proclaimed a one-year state of emergency, and promised to then hold fresh elections, without offering any precise timeframe.
The coup has triggered widespread international condemnation, although neighbouring China has declined to criticise the generals.
US President Joe Biden has leading the calls for the generals to relinquish power.
