Full statement from Myanmar military on state of emergency

Military has transferred power to the army heads and detained civilian leaders of Myanmar

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  Myanmar nationals in Japan demonstrate against the military coup that took place in their home country on Monday, February 1, 2021. Getty Images

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  A Myanmar national in Japan holds up a portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest held in front of the United Nations University in Tokyo. EPA

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  People hold up images of Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a protest outside Maynmar's embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images

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  NLD supporters shout slogans outside Myanmar's embassy during a rally after the military seized power from a democratically elected civilian government and arrested its leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters

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  People use their smartphones to live stream a protest outside Myanmar's embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images

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  This screengrab provided via AFPTV and taken from a broadcast by Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) in Myanmar shows the announcement of a one-year state of emergency in the country. AFP

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  A screen grab from Myanmar state television footage shows Myanmar Acting President Myint Swe (R) and General Min Aung Hlaing (L) as they attend a meeting. Reuters

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  A military helicopter flies in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. EPA

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  Cars pass police sitting in trucks along a road in Yangon, as Myanmar's military detained the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the country's president in a coup. AFP

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  Policemen sit inside trucks parked on a road in the downtown area of Yangon, Myanmar. AP

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  Myanmar military supporters riding a vehicle wave a military flag as they go around Yangon, Myanmar. AP

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  People wave flags as they ride on a vehicle in Yangon, Myanmar. Reuters

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  A view of Shwedagon Pagoda, a Buddhist religious landmark in Yangon, as Myanmar's military detained the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the country's president in a coup. AFP

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  Myanmar soldiers are seen inside City Hall in Yangon, Myanmar. Reuters

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  A woman leaves her house while being escorted by soldiers (unseen) at an unidentified location in Myanmar, in this picture obtained from social media. Reuters

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  A demonstrator prepares to throw a rock towards riot police during a protest outside the Embassy of Myanmar in Bangkok, Thailand. Andre Malerba/Bloomberg

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  A Thai pro-democracy protestor confronts riot police in Bangkok, in the area where Myanmar migrants were demonstrating after Myanmar's military detained the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the country's president in a coup. AFP

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  A group of Myanmar activists hold the portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest outside the United Nation university in Tokyo following a military coup in the country by a general after arresting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior officials. AFP

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  Anti-Thai government protester wields a traffic cone at riot police during a clash at a rally for Myanmar's democracy outside the embassy, in Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters

Myanmar's army declared a state of emergency on Monday as it detained senior government leaders in response to alleged fraud during November's general election.

A video address broadcast on military-owned television said power had been handed to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Here is the statement read out on Myawaddy Television:

"The voter lists which were used during the multi-party general election which was held on the November 8 were found to have huge discrepancies and the Union Election Commission failed to settle this matter.

"Although the sovereignty of the nation must derive from the people, there was terrible fraud in the voter list during the democratic general election, which runs contrary to ensuring a stable democracy.

"A refusal to settle the issue of voter list fraud and a failure to take action and follow a request to postpone lower-house and upper-house parliament sessions is not in accordance with article 417 of the 2018 constitution that refers to 'acts or attempts to take over the sovereignty of the Union by wrongful forcible means' and could lead to a disintegration of national solidarity.

"Due to such acts, there have been a lot of protests going on in townships and cities in Myanmar to demonstrate their mistrust toward UEC.

"Other parties and people have also been found conducting different kinds of provocations including displaying flags which are very damaging to national security.

"Unless this problem is resolved, it will obstruct the path to democracy and it must therefore be resolved according to the law.

"Therefore, the state of emergency is declared in accordance with article 417 of the 2008 constitution.

"In order to perform scrutiny of the voter lists and to take action, the authority of the nation’s law making, governance and jurisdiction is handed over to the Commander in Chief in accordance with the 2008 constitution article 418, sub article (a).

"The state of emergency is effective nationwide and the duration of the state of emergency is set for one year, starting from the date this order is announced in line with article 417 of the 2008 constitution."