US orders non-essential staff to leave Myanmar

The US State Department has ordered American diplomats and their families to leave Myanmar due to the military coup in the Asian country, Report informs with reference to Interfax.

The Department believes that the protests against the military authorities will continue.

On February 14, the State Department allowed civil servants to leave Myanmar voluntarily. However, now it is obligatory. Only those diplomats whose work is critically needed can remain.

The State Department also advises US citizens to avoid travel to Myanmar due to escalating civil unrest and armed violence.

On February 1, the Myanmar military declared a state of emergency for a year and arrested the country's civilian leadership, explaining this by large-scale fraud in the November elections. The armed forces have formed a new cabinet.