Witnesses said Myanmar security forces opened fire on pro-democracy demonstrators on Monday, a day after dozens of protesters were killed and attackers set fire to several Chinese-funded factories in Yangon.

At least 44 demonstrators were killed on Sunday, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monitoring network, as security forces cracked down on anti-coup protests, bringing the overall death toll to more than 120.

After one of the deadliest days since the February 1 coup, Myanmar's junta a tweet, Christine Schraner Burgener said, "The international community, including regional actors, must come together in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their democratic aspirations." Junta declared martial law in two heavily populated Yangon townships late Sunday.

The junta has repeatedly justified its power grab by claiming widespread electoral fraud in the November elections, which Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party swept to victory.

The major Hlaing Tharyar township in Yangon, as well as the neighboring Shwepyitha township, will be put under martial law, according to state-run media late Sunday.
Factory centers and home to garment factories are the large and neglected townships.

An announcer on state-run television said the junta "gives administrative and judicial martial law control to the Yangon regional commander... to perform defense, maintain the rule of law, and tranquility more effectively."

Soldiers and police have been conducting near-daily crackdowns on pro-democracy demonstrators in recent weeks, using tear gas, rubber bullets, and live rounds to disperse anti-coup protesters.

Police and soldiers clashed violently with demonstrators wielding sticks and knives who fled behind improvised barricades in Hlaing Tharyar township.

Separately, the UN envoy for Myanmar denounced "continuing violence" on Sunday, after a number of demonstrators were killed in one of the country's deadliest days since the country's Feb. 1 coup.