Myanmar coup: What's the military's role in politics?

Myanmar military chief Min Aung Hlaing seen with Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyitaw, in this file picture from Dec 2, 2015. - AFP

YANGON (Reuters): Myanmar's powerful military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, is in the spotlight after politicians from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party were detained and the army announced it was taking power.

Myanmar's military is notoriously reclusive and even sophisticated observers know little about its inner workings.