Reports: Myanmar security forces kill at least 33 protesters - Associated Press

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar security forces dramatically escalated their crackdown on protests against last month’s coup, killing at least 34 protesters Wednesday in several cities, according to accounts on social media and local news reports compiled by a data analyst.

Videos from Wednesday also showed security forces firing slingshots at demonstrators, chasing them down and even brutally beating an ambulance crew.

The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm most of the reported deaths, but several square with online postings.

A video showed he had moved out of the way as police charged down a street at protesters, but then was seized by police officers, who handcuffed him and held him briefly in a chokehold before marching him away.

Still, any kind of coordinated action at the United Nations will be difficult since two permanent members of the Security Council, China and Russia, would almost certainly veto it.

Ignoring that appeal, Myanmar’s security forces on Wednesday continued to attack peaceful protesters.

In Yangon, a widely circulated video taken from a security camera showed police in the city brutally beating members of an ambulance crew — apparently after they were arrested.

Police can be seen kicking the three crew members and thrashing them with rifle butts.

Video from the AP showed a squad of police firing slingshots in the apparent direction of demonstrators as they dispersed.