Nationwide protests continued Monday, with demonstrators in the south holding signs that said "Free our leaders" and waving red flags emblazoned with a golden peacock -- the symbol of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party.

In commercial hub Yangon, dozens of protesters took part in a flash mob which lasted only 10 minutes -- a lightning-quick show of resistance to avoid confrontation with security forces.

Waving a three-finger salute, they chanted "Eradicate the fascist army!"

The junta has justified its power grab by claiming it is protecting democracy, alleging electoral fraud in November elections which the NLD won in a landslide.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing had travelled to Jakarta over the weekend for a top-level meeting with the 10-country bloc of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- his first overseas trip since his power grab.

The meeting produced a "consensus statement" that called for the cessation of violence, but stopped short of demanding a release of political prisoners.

It drew condemnation from much of Myanmar's civil society -- already angered by ASEAN's invitation to the general.

AFP