LONDON — The European Union and the United Kingdom said on Saturday that actions by Myanmar"s junta are "indefensible" after scores of anti-coup protesters were reportedly killed as the country marked Armed Forces Day. In a statement released on Facebook, the EU embassy in Myanmar said, "This 76th Myanmar Armed Forces Day will forever stay engraved as a day of terror and dishonor. The killing of unarmed civilians, including children, are indefensible acts." "The European Union stands more than ever by the courageous people of Myanmar and calls for an immediate and unconditional end of all forms of violence and the restoration of democracy," the statement also read. The British ambassador wrote in a statement released on Twitter that "the security forces have disgraced themselves by shooting unarmed civilians." "Dozens of innocent people have reportedly been killed, including children," he added. The AFP news agency said that at least 19 people were killed on Saturday. The death toll since the Feb. 1 coup by the military junta stood at 328 on Friday, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a group that documents deaths and arrests It has cautioned that its tally includes only verified cases, with the actual number of casualties “likely much higher.” Armed Forces Day is a public holiday, which marks the beginning of a revolt against Japanese occupation in World War 2. This year, protesters referred to it by its original name, Resistance Day, and threatened to double down on their public opposition to the overthrow of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi with more and bigger demonstrations. The junta had tried to quell turnout for protests with a message broadcast on state television on Friday evening which warned: "You should learn from the tragedy of earlier ugly deaths that you can be in danger of getting shot in the head and back." Ei Thinzar Maung, one of the figures in the anti-coup protests, urged people to take to protest on Saturday. "I pray everyone will be safe tomorrow," she posted on social media. "We will win this!" "Now is the time to fight against military oppression," she insisted. Talking before a military parade in capital Naypyitaw on Saturday, coup leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing did not directly refer to protesters but referred to "terrorism, which can be harmful to state tranquility and social security,” and called it unacceptable." He also doubled down on the junta"s claim that Suu Kyi"s elected government failed to investigate irregularities in the last polls and that "the Tatmadaw (armed forces) unavoidably assumed the state responsibility by lawful means". The military has claimed there were irregularities in the voting rolls for last November’s election, which Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won in a landslide. Aung Hlaing also repeated that his government will hold "a free and fair election" after "the accomplishment of the State of Emergency provision" but gave no further details. The junta detained Suu Kyi on the day it took power, and continues to hold her on minor criminal charges while investigating allegations of corruption against her that her supporters dismiss as politically motivated. — Euronews