The UK announced sanctions against the Myanmar Economic Group (MEC) for "serious human rights violations" during the crisis in the country.

"Two months since the coup, the Myanmar army is more corrupted with the killing of innocent people, including children," British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said today.

The MEC and another military conglomerate, Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL), dominate many areas of Myanmar's economy, including trade, alcohol, tobacco and consumer goods.

Myanmar protesters carried sandbags to build barriers on the streets of Yangon on March 31.

Britain last week also punished MEHL on allegations of "serious human rights violations against the Rohingya and links with high-ranking military officials".

After taking power in February, Myanmar's military regained control of state-owned companies.

Much of the trade in jade and rubies is controlled by military businesses.

Between 1990 and 2011, about $ 18 billion was paid to incumbent or retired military officials who have a stake in the MEHL, according to an Amnesty International report last September.

The US Treasury Department announced last week that MEHL and MEC would be blacklisted.

This is the latest move in a series of US sanctions against Myanmar's central bank and top generals since the February 1 coup.