Myanmar stages 'broken down' cars protest

With bonnets up, and hazard lights flashing - cars appeared to be broken down across Myanmar's largest city of Yangon on Wednesday.

It was the latest creative protest from taxi drivers, commuters and even public transportation employees.

Their aim was to block military and police from moving in on protesters.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Yangon and were joined by celebrities and veteran activists.

At a press conference on Tuesday, a military spokesperson said it will hold a fair election, but gave no date.

Police filed an additional charge against detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi of violating a Natural Disaster Management Law, on top of earlier filed charges of illegally importing six walkie talkie radios.

Protester Min Kyaw joined the demonstration downtown:

"I think the civil disobedience movement (CDM) is efficient because the government officers are joining the protest, and the junta has to ask them to go back to work. We (protesters) need to keep going."

Recently, the army hasgiven itself extensive search and detention powers and there have been penal code amendments aimed at stifling dissent with tough prison terms.

Despite this, demonstrations have continued in towns across the ethnically diverse country.

The civil disobedience movement has been growing with strikes that are crippling many functions of government.