Myanmar's military has raided the Yangon headquarters of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party, officials said, hours after the United Nations condemned "unacceptable" violence against protesters demanding a return to democracy.
The latest assault on Myanmar's civilian leadership came as anger at last week's coup and the detention of Ms Suu Kyi by the generals has driven hundreds of thousands of people into the streets in recent days, defying a junta ban on rallies.
"The military dictator raided and destroyed NLD headquarters at around 9:30pm," the National League for Democracy announced on its Facebook page.
The party's short statement gave no further details.
The raid came after demonstrations erupted for a fourth straight day, with police using water cannons in several cities, firing rubber bullets at protesters in the capital Naypyidaw and deploying tear gas in Mandalay.
The rallies came despite a warning from the junta that it would take action against demonstrations that threatened "stability", and a new ban on gatherings of more than five people.
In Naypyidaw, the remote capital purpose-built by the previous military regime, witnesses said police fired projectiles at protesters after earlier blasting them with water cannon.
"They fired warning shots to the sky two times, then they fired (at protesters) with rubber bullets," a resident said.
At least one emergency room doctor said the military were also using live rounds, leaving a 23-year-old man and 19-year-old in a critical condition in hospital.
"We believe they are actual bullets because of the wounds and their injuries," the doctor said.
"We don't operate on their wounds because they could die right away - we are 100% sure they will die if we operate - that's why we are watching their condition by treating them medically."
The father of one of the victims said his son had been shot "when he tried to use the megaphone to ask people to protest peacefully after the police used water cannon to disperse them."
"He got hit in the back ... I'm very worried about him," the 56-year-old said.
In Mandalay, the country's second-biggest city, police fired tear gas to disperse protesters.
A witness, who declined to be named out of fear of the authorities, said she gave shelter to about 20 of the protesters, offering them water, towels and fresh face coverings.
As night fell the United Nations voiced its "strong concern" over the violence.
"The use of disproportionate force against demonstrators is unacceptable," said Ola Almgren, the UN resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar.
Earlier this week the protests by hundreds of thousands appeared to have rattled the military, with junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing making a televised speech to justify seizing power, citing fraud claims.
The army also announced a curfew and a ban on protest gatherings.
Today fresh demonstrations emerged in Yangon, including near the NLD's headquarters.
The protesters carried placards, some of which read "We want our leader", in reference to Ms Suu Kyi and "No dictatorship".
By afternoon, thousands had gathered in neighbouring Kamayut township, carrying umbrellas and wearing raincoats as they faced off against police, who had water cannon trucks blocking protesters from marching ahead.
"Of course we are worried (about a crackdown)," said protester Khin Thida Nyein, a teacher. "We only have one life but we still come out .... as we are more concerned for the future of our children."
Protesters dispersed by nightfall, with no reports of clashes with Yangon authorities.
Meanwhile, civil aviation workers and air traffic controllers have joined a civil disobedience movement, with their strike set to impact international flights wanting to pass through Myanmar's air space.
It will also hit the military government's coffers, which are set to lose overflight fees paid by airlines that could be worth up to €150,000 per day.
The NLD won last November's national elections by a landslide but the military never accepted the results.
It has announced a one-year state of emergency and promised to hold fresh elections after that.
General Min Aung Hlaing insisted the military would abide by its promises and reinstall democracy. He also declared that things would be different from the army's previous 49-year reign, which ended in 2011.
New Zealand became the first foreign government to take concrete public action, announcing the suspension of high-level military and political contacts with Myanmar.
The United States has denounced the use of force against protesters, renewing a call for their freedom of expression.
"We strongly condemn violence against demonstrators. All individuals in Burma have rights to peaceful assembly," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
The UN Human Rights Council said it would hold a relatively rare special session on Friday to discuss the crisis.
