YANGON: Myanmar's military rulers on Thursday accused the ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi of illegally accepting USD 600,000  and gold. The allegation is the strongest yet levelled by the military since it overthrew Suu Kyi and the country's democratic leadership on 1 February, the BBC reported. However, No evidence was provided for the charge.

Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won a landslide victory in the polls last year, but the military now claims the election was fraudulent. Suu Kyi has been held for the past five weeks in an undisclosed location and faces several charges including causing "fear and alarm", illegally possessing radio equipment, and breaking Covid-19 restrictions.

Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun also accused President Win Myint and several cabinet ministers of corruption.

Independent international observers have disputed the military's claim - saying no irregularities were observed. The illegal payments charge levelled on Thursday was the most serious so far. The value of the gold the military alleges she illegally accepted is roughly £450,000.

Myanmar has been gripped by street protests since the military seized control and detained Suu Kyi. Her image has been held aloft by the protesters.

At least seven more people were killed by security forces on Thursday, taking the total death toll to more than 60. Witnesses said that some protesters had been shot in the head. The military has dismissed criticism of its actions, instead of blaming Suu Kyi for the violence.

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