Myanmar’s junta cut the nation’s internet and deployed extra troops around the country on Mondayafter protests over this month’s coup and the detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi drew hundreds of thousands onto the streets.

With protesters refusing to back down, the generals imposed an internet shutdown on Monday morning.

Myanmar security forces fired on a protest and arrested journalists in the country’s north on Sunday as reports of troop movements suggested an impending crackdown on demonstrations against a recent military coup.

Soldiers fired tear gas then shot at a crowd who gathered in Myitkyina to stop a rumoured shutdown of the northern city’s electricity grid.A journalist at the scene said it was unclear how many had been injured in the incident.

“We don’t know if police had used rubber bullets or live rounds,” the reporter added.

Police later arrested at least five journalists reporting from the scene, according to a media outlet based in the city.

Extra troops were seen in key locations of Yangon, the nation’s commercial hub and biggest city, including armoured personnel carriers near the central bank.

A joint statement from the US, British and European Union ambassadors urged security forces not to harm civilians.

“We call on security forces to refrain from violence against demonstrators, who are protesting the overthrow of their legitimate government,” they said.