Expats start returning home amid protests in Myanmar

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - Foreigners living in Myanmar have started to leave for their respective countries amid widespread protests against the military coup.

Japan took the lead and flew the first plane carrying its nationals from Myanmar's most populous city Yangon early Friday, Kyodo News reported.

It added that Japanese businesses face uncertainty due to growing tensions in the Buddhist-majority Southeast Asian country.

Myanmar's military declared a state of emergency on Feb. 1, hours after detaining de facto leader and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and senior members of the then-ruling National League for Democracy party.

The coup took place hours before the first session of the country's new parliament was set to convene following elections in November, in which the ruling party made sweeping gains.

The military claimed that the coup was staged as a result of "election fraud" in the polls that resulted in the dominance of the party in parliament.

Japanese passengers on the All Nippon Airways flight included businessmen who were asked to return home for their safety. The flight is bound to land at Narita airport near the capital Tokyo later Friday.

Besides Japan, Taiwan is also evacuating its citizens from Myanmar. Taiwan-based China Airlines is scheduled to bring Taiwanese residents back home from Feb. 21.

Indonesia and the Philippines have said they will bring their citizens back "if they need to."