Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party, has been detained along with other senior figures, the government said.
Why it matters: The arrests come amid escalating tensions between the civilian government and the powerful military, triggering concerns of a coup.
- Myanmar was ruled by the military until 2011. But it had been "celebrated as a rare case in which generals willingly handed over some power to civilians" after it respected the 2015 election win of Suu Kyi's party, the New York Times notes.
- She won a 1991 Nobel Peace Prize during her nonviolent campaign for democracy that saw her placed under house arrest for a total of 15 years.
What we know: Government spokesperson Myo Nyunt told Reuters that 75-year-old Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were among those taken" in early-morning raids.
Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.