Myanmar's military has extended by another six months a state of emergency it imposed after seizing power in a coup.

Myanmar's junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, said during a meeting of top military officials on Monday that it is still too early to hold elections because violence continues, according to state-run media. He said preparations need to be made for the elections, and that the military must continue to be in charge.

The military declared the state of emergency in 2021 and has since extended it three times, while continuing its crackdown on pro-democratic forces.

Myanmar was supposed to hold elections by August in a bid to pave the way for a democratic transition. But the latest, fourth extension of the emergency measure in effect means that the polls won't be held before next February.

Fighting continues between the military and pro- democracy activists. As of Monday, 3,857 civilians have been killed since the coup, according to a human rights group.

The military is expected to use the state of emergency as a pretext to continue its clampdown on pro-democracy activists.

Kyoto University associate professor Nakanishi Yoshihiro says Min Aung Hlaing has consolidated his position as an autocratic leader, as he continues to hold legislative, judicial and executive powers. Nakanishi says his authoritarian control of the government will likely continue for the time being, as will social unrest.