Protesters hold signs demanding the release of detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration in Yangon on February 9, 2021. (SAI AUNG MAIN / AFP)

YANGON - Protests continued in Yangon and other cities in Myanmar on Tuesday, despite a ban on gatherings in certain townships which was announced earlier.

Gatherings of five or more than five persons at public areas are banned in some townships of regions and states under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code, said an order issued by the Military True News Information Team.

At the same time, a night-time curfew, running from 8:00 pm to 4:00 am local time, has also been imposed in all townships excluding Cocokyun township in Yangon, in some townships of Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay and some other regions and states, according to the order.

A one-year state of emergency was declared in Myanmar after President U Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on Feb 1

"The curfew and ban on gatherings will be imposed in the places where crowds are most likely to occur," an official from Myanmar Police Force told Xinhua.

The protests continued on Tuesday, demanding the release of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and others.

A one-year state of emergency was declared in Myanmar after President U Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on Feb 1.

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On Monday, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar will conduct friendly cooperation with all countries while the country's foreign policy will not change.

In his first televised message to the public after the declaration of a one-year state of emergency, Min Aung Hlaing said that during the period, there will be no change in foreign, executive and economic policies and Myanmar will continue its current political path.

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Under the roadmap, the Union Election Commission, which was recently reformed, has been reviewing the electoral process of last year's general elections, he said.

The ongoing preventive measures against COVID-19 will continue to be implemented without losing momentum, while emphasis will be put on distributing vaccines all over the country.

Arrangements are being made to help the businesses which were affected by COVID-19, the commander-in-chief said, calling for investment from both home and abroad.

The council's chairperson stressed plans to achieve eternal peace across the country in accordance with a nationwide ceasefire agreement and called for cooperation of the ethnic people and ethnic armed organizations to achieve the lasting peace.

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The council will hold free and fair general elections and the power of the state will be handed over to the political party which wins the elections in line with democracy standards after tasks were accomplished under the state of emergency, he said.