Canberra/Bangkok | Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Monday stepped up pressure on coup leaders in Myanmar to immediately release economist Sean Turnell, as unions in the violence-torn country called for another day of nationwide strikes and protests.

A day after suspending defence co-operation and redirecting aid away from leaders of the bloody five-week-old coup, Senator Payne said officials in Canberra and Yangon were working to free Professor Turnell, who had been advising displaced leader Aung San Suu Kyi.