WASHINGTON, 31. Jan (REUTERS) -- The United States, Britain and Canada on Monday (Jan 31) imposed sanctions against officials in Myanmar, in measures timed to mark one year since the military seized power and plunged the country into chaos.

A joint action by the three nations, who have all already imposed sanctions on Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing and other members of the military government, targeted judicial officials involved in prosecutions against deposed Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Washington also slapped sanctions on a directorate responsible for buying weapons for the junta from overseas, an alleged arms dealer and a company it said provides financial support to the junta.

The military have detained Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party since the Feb 1, 2021, coup. The military complained of fraud in a November 2020 election that the NLD won by a landslide. Monitors said the vote reflected the will of the country's people.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the coordinated action demonstrated international support for Myanmar's people and would "further promote accountability for the coup and the violence perpetrated by the regime", citing nearly 1,500 people killed and 10,000 detained by a military seeking to consolidate control.