U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday he had approved an executive order for new sanctions on those responsible for the military takeover in Myanmar and repeated demands for the generals to give up power and free civilian leaders.

Biden said Washington would identify the first round of targets this week and was taking steps to prevent army generals in Myanmar from having access to $1 billion in Myanmar government funds held in the United States.

He also called on the Myanmar military to immediately release detainees, including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

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A one-year state of emergency was declared in Myanmar after U Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on February 1.

The military had demanded the postponement of new parliamentary sessions, alleging massive voting fraud in the November 2020 general elections, which saw the National League for Democracy win a majority of seats in both houses of parliament. Myanmar's Union Election Commission dismissed the allegation.

(With input from Xinhua)