Myanmar troops fired at anti-coup protesters on Wednesday killing at least five people and wounding several as activists defied a bloody crackdown and internet blockade by the ruling junta, media said.

More than 580 people have been killed in the turmoil in Myanmar since a Feb. 1, coup that ended a brief period of civilian-led democracy, according to an activist group, .

Nationwide protests and strikes have persisted since then in spite of the ruling military’s use of lethal force to quell the opposition.

Security forces opened fire on protesters in the northwestern town of Kale as they demanded the restoration of Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government, a resident told Reuters.

News outlets cited witnesses saying there were casualties and repeated gunfire.

The Mizzima and Irrawaddy news outlets said five people were killed and several wounded.

The Kale resident said the information was provided to him by witnesses, who took pictures of five bodies.

culled from THE NATION