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Ammon News - Tens of thousands of people have protested for a second day in Myanmar's main city, Yangon, despite an internet shutdown imposed by the military that has failed to stop anti-coup rallies, the BBC reported.

"We don't want military dictatorship," the crowds chanted. Many held pictures of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi and wore red, the colour of her party.

She has not been seen since the army overthrew her government last Monday.

Internet access now appears to have been partially restored.

The blackout was imposed on Saturday after the military blocked access to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stop people mobilising. Phone services have also been disrupted.

On Sunday, demonstrators in Yangon held red balloons, while cars and buses slowed to sound their horns in support. Many flashed the three-finger salute, which has become a symbol of defiance against authoritarianism in the region, according to the BBC.

"Respect our vote," read one banner, in reference to the National League for Democracy Party's (NLD), landslide win in November's election.

Police trucks and officers in riot gear were stationed on the streets near Yangon University, but there were no immediate reports of violence.

Myo Win, a 37-year-old protester, told Agence France-Presse: "We'll move forward and keep demanding until we get democracy."

So far the military authorities, known for their violent repression tactics, are not stopping this show of mass defiance, BBC South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head reports. But everyone assumes they will try to before long, the BBC reported.

Ms Suu Kyi and senior leaders of her National League for Democracy Party (NLD), including President Win Myint, have been under house arrest since the army took control of government and declared a year-long state of emergency.

Sunday's protests in Yangon were the biggest since the so-called Saffron Revolution in 2007, when thousands of the country's monks rose up against the military regime, Reuters news agency reports.

Smaller demonstrations were also reported in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city, and in Mawlamine.

The military authorities have not commented. They are hunkered down in the capital, Nay Pyi Daw, and have so far avoided direct engagement with the protesters.

Earlier on Sunday, internet connectivity was at 14% of usual levels, according to the monitoring group NetBlocks Internet Observatory. Despite the blackout, some images and videos of the protests were posted online.

The group said that by 14:00 local time (07:30 GMT) connectivity had risen to about 50%, although it remained unclear if restoration would be sustained.

The shutdown was criticised by human rights groups. Amnesty International said the blackout was "heinous and reckless" and warned it could put people at risk of human rights violations, the BBC indicated.

The United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said: "The generals are now attempting to paralyse the citizen movement of resistance - and keep the outside world in the dark - by cutting virtually all internet access."

The coup took place as a new session of parliament was set to open, following the November election in which the NLD party won 80% of parliamentary seats.

Many Burmese watched the events unfold in real time on Facebook, which is the country's primary source of information and news.