FILE PHOTO: Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar's armed forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attends the IX Moscow conference on international security in Moscow, Russia June 23, 2021. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS

 

(Reuters) - Myanmar's military ruler said on Friday Russia had agreed to supply two million doses of coronavirus vaccine from this month, as the Southeast Asian country reported another record in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

 

Min Aung Hlaing, who led a Feb. 1 coup against Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government, said the virus was spreading fast in Myanmar and that senior Russian defence officials had told him help with vaccines was on the way.

 

"I told them that I want two million and they will give," he said in remarks carried by army-owned Myawaddy television.

 

Myanmar reported 4,320 cases on Friday, a record for a second successive day, and 63 deaths.

 

Min Aung Hlaing last month said he was seeking seven million doses of Russian vaccines.

 

Myanmar is in the midst of its most serious wave of infections to date, with efforts to manage the outbreak hampered by nationwide chaos in the wake of the military's coup.

 

Some health experts say Myanmar's real rate of infection is likely to be far higher given a collapse in testing since the coup and health workers joining strikes in protest.

 

Russia is among the few countries that have openly embraced the military government, which has been condemned globally over the coup and the deadly crackdown on pro-democracy groups.

 

The junta says most of those killed or arrested where “terrorists” who were inciting violence.

 

Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar was keen to make its own COVID-19 vaccines and Russia wanted to cooperate and send a delegation to inspect its production plant during this month. He did not elaborate.

 

(Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-07-10

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

The junta says most of those killed or arrested where “terrorists” who were inciting violence.

Great, but they seems to be indicating it's ok to kill some in collateral damage that were not !

There's something seriously wrong with that guys ears, they look completely fake.

 

This should cover the generals and their cronies.

18 minutes ago, ukrules said:

There's something seriously wrong with that guys ears, they look completely fake.

 

It's called "Asian-Pinocchio" syndrome.

 

When lying your ears start growing.

Dark version of Jiminy Cricket ????

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"I told them that I want two million and they will give,"

"If not, I will fart in their general direction." - Monty Python

Looking into Min Aung Hlaing's face I see an evil devil ....... but he is playing the cards now between China (access to the Gulf of Bengal) and Russia (presence in Southeast Asia). 

The entire mess ends up on the average Burmese's plate - what a fiasco and the whole world in general as well as the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations High Commissariat for Refugees and ASEAN are sitting idle and do ...... nothing except issuing yet another paper wasting resolution ???? 

What  has the world become? 

7 hours ago, harada said:

This should cover the generals and their cronies.

They have already been fully vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna, I’m willing to bet you anything. It’s glaringly obvious that they don’t care about anyone but themselves, and they have more than enough money to throw around, so I’m pretty sure they managed to acquire a couple doses of the best vaccines that money can buy.

Maybe Thailand"s PM can  buy the vaccine from  from Burma soon

Sputurma vaccine     555

If Covid dosen't get ya this will

 

That arrogant looking head needs a bullet through it !

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Myanmar was keen to make its own COVID-19 vaccines and Russia wanted to cooperate

Also "nerve agents"??????

With two sets of 'wings' and at least twice as many medals as the Thai PM I know where my votes going.......

 

Good news, the vaccine is on 'rush delivery.