Anti-coup protesters across Myanmar defied a new military ban on rallies and took to the streets Tuesday for a fourth straight day, as international condemnation swelled against the putsch.

Police used water cannon Monday on anti-coup protesters in Myanmar's capital, according to witnesses.

Myanmar saw its largest anti-coup protests yet on Saturday with young demonstrators spilling on to the streets to denounce the country's new military regime, despite a nationwide internet blackout aimed at stifling a growing chorus of popular dissent. 

Myanmar's generals ordered internet providers to restrict access to Facebook Thursday, as UN chief Antonio Guterres said the world must rally to ensure the military coup fails.

Myanmar’s generals appeared in firm control Tuesday a day after a surgical coup that saw democracy heroine Aung San Suu Kyi detained, as they offered silence to a barrage of global condemnation.

Myanmar's ousted National League for Democracy party called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained leaders on Tuesday, describing the coup a day earlier as a "stain" on the military's history.

Japan called Monday on Myanmar's military to release de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and restore democracy in the country after a bloodless coup following a disputed election result.

EU chief Charles Michel on Monday strongly condemned the coup by Myanmar's military and demanded the release of all those wrongly detained in the crackdown.

Aung San Suu Kyi's political party is urging Myanmar's people to oppose Monday's "coup" and any return to "military dictatorship."

The National League for Democracy released a statement on the Facebook page of its party head, Suu Kyi, saying the military's actions were unjustified and went against the constitution and the will of voters.

Myanmar's military seized power in a bloodless coup on Monday, detaining democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi as it imposed a one-year state of emergency.