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After days of stop-start threats by the military, on Feb. 1 the government of Myanmar silently and seamlessly changed hands, without a shot. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
The Big Story

Myanmar: Inside the coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's government

Ending civilian rule is a test for Washington -- and a chance for Beijing

GWEN ROBINSON and YUICHI NITTA, Nikkei staff writers, and THOMPSON CHAU, Contributing writer | Myanmar

BANGKOK/YANGON/NAYPYITAW -- Myanmar's bloodless coup began with surgical precision in the pre-dawn hours of Monday as teams of soldiers detained the country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. At the same time, the military was taking into temporary custody top officials of her National League for Democracy and about 400 lawmakers staying in the capital, Naypyitaw, for the first sitting of parliament since the Nov. 8 general election.

Internet and mobile phone communications were disrupted, and a statement read out on military television announced that the commander in chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was now in charge. He declared a one-year state of emergency.

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