Naypyidaw: Myanmar authorities on Wednesday extended the country's state of emergency for six months, citing ongoing terrorist attacks and drug trafficking.

"Members of the National Defence and Security Council of Myanmar... have conducted a review and discussion and expressed their support for a further extension [of the state of emergency] for six months," the government said in a statement.

Among the reasons for such a decision are continuing terrorist acts by some ethnic armed organisations, drug trafficking, and internet scamming, as well as the need to create conditions for holding free and fair democratic elections and a national census.

It is the fifth extension of the state of emergency by the military government. The previous one was in July 2023 and also lasted six months.

On February 1, 2021, the military seized power in Myanmar using a constitutional mechanism for transferring powers in an emergency situation. They arrested government officials, accusing them of rigging the general election, and later appointed a new administration.

The takeover sparked major civil unrest, resulting in widespread armed resistance.

An opposition has created an underground alternative government of national unity, which includes former members of the toppled National League for Democracy party and representatives of ethnic political forces and calls for an active confrontation with the military government.

(With UNI/Sputnik inputs)