Myanmar coup: UN calls for arms embargo against military

The UN has issued a rare call to halt to arms sales to Myanmar in response to this year's violent military coup.The General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the military junta, which overthrew the country's elected government in February. The UN also called for the release of political detainees, such as elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and an end to violence against peaceful protesters.

While not legally binding, the resolution is politically significant. "The risk of a large-scale civil war is real," UN special envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, told the General Assembly. "Time is of the essence. The opportunity to reverse the military takeover is narrowing."

It was supported by 119 countries, with Belarus the only one to vote against it. Another 36 countries abstained, including Russia and China - Myanmar military's two biggest arms suppliers. Some of the abstainers said the crisis was an internal issue for Myanmar, while others said the resolution did not address a brutal military crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim population four years ago, which forced almost a million people to flee the country.

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