Burmese youth activists sing "Bella Ciao", an Italian protest folk song that is the considered the symbol of anti-fascism resistance, during a demonstration against authoritarian military rule in Yangon City, Myanmar, on August 20.

Youths hold up coloured smoke flares and banners.

"Bella Ciao" was said to have been sung by female field workers in northern Italy in the late 19th century but has since been adopted by other resistance movements.

Myanmar has suffered ongoing unrest and spiralled towards civil war following the removal of well-liked leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a military coup last February when the army seized power.

Burmese youth activists sang an Italian protest folk song while staging a demonstration against authoritarian military rule in Myanmar.

Footage shows the youths holding up coloured smoke flares and banners while singing a localised version of 'Bella Ciao' during their rally in Yangon City on August 20.

The piece was said to have been sung by female field workers in northern Italy in the late 19th century but has since been adopted by other resistance movements.

Myanmar has suffered ongoing unrest and spiralled towards civil war following the removal of well-liked leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a military coup last February when the army seized power.