Move to prolong ‘illegitimate rule’: US

The United States on Wednesday denounced the Myanmar junta's extension of a state of emergency, saying it prolonged suffering two years after a coup toppled an elected government.

"The United States strongly opposes the Burma military regime's decision to extend the state of emergency, prolonging the military's illegitimate rule and the suffering it inflicts upon the country," State Department spokesman Ned Price said, using Myanmar's former name.

The junta on the coup anniversary said it was extending the emergency by six months, pushing back the date for elections under the constitution. Price said the United States was determined to work with other countries to "deny the regime international credibility."

He also denounced the junta's version of "so-called elections, which will exacerbate violence and instability and will not be representative of the country's people." US earlier announced sanctions against Myanmar's energy sector leadership as part of efforts to pressure junta further.