Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG), set up by opponents of army rule, said on Wednesday it had formed a "people's defense force" to protect its supporters from military attacks and violence instigated by the junta.
Since the military seized power and ousted an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, Myanmar has seen daily protests and a surge of violence with security forces killing hundreds of civilians.