Myanmar's military says 'takeover' not a 'coup'

Myanmar's military spokesman on Tuesday denied that its "takeover" was a "coup," saying the armed forces had no choice but to take power because fraud in a November election was not addressed.

"Our objective is to hold an election and hand power to the winning party," Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the State Administration Council, told the military's first news conference since it took control on February 1.

The military has not given a date for a new election, but it has imposed a state of emergency for one year.

(With input from Reuters)