Following the military coup and the arrest of leading politicians in Myanmar, new U.S. President Joe Biden has threatened the country with sanctions.

Biden said in a statement that the international community should unite to put pressure on the Myanmar army to hand over power immediately.

The U.S. president also called on the international community to press for the release of detained politicians and to lift restrictions on communications.

Biden added that the army coup with takeover of power, the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi and other politicians, and the declaration of a national state of emergency are a direct attack on democracy and the rule of law.

At the same time, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has also called for the immediate release of members of the Myanmar government.

The UN Security Council plans to discuss the current developments in Myanmar today, Tuesday.

The British Foreign Office summoned Myanmar’s ambassador “Kiao Zawar Min” on Monday in response to the military coup and the arrest of senior politicians.

According to IRNA, the British Foreign Office spokesman announced this and said Nigel Adams, the British Deputy Foreign Secretary for Asian Affairs in a meeting with Myanmar’s ambassador condemned the detention of civilians in the country and called for their immediate release.

Myanmar’s military staged a coup against the country’s democratic government Monday morning over alleged election fraud, arresting de facto head of government Aung San Suu Kyi and other politicians and declaring a state of emergency.

The San Suu-led National League for Democracy party won the November general election with 83 percent of the vote, but the military accused the ruling party of rigging the election.

The military coup in Myanmar was quickly met with regional and international reactions