YANGON (Kyodo) -- Myanmar's military government said it will extend a state of emergency for another six months, state media reported Friday, the day before the fourth anniversary of the coup that ousted the country's democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since the Feb. 1, 2021, coup, the junta has repeatedly extended the state of emergency due to a prolonged conflict between the military and opposition forces comprising pro-democracy citizens who have taken up arms and ethnic minority militia.

With the latest extension, the deadline for holding a general election to restore civilian rule will be pushed back to Feb. 1 next year.

The MRTV report said the National Defense and Security Council, Myanmar's supreme decision-making body, held a meeting Friday and decided to extend the state of emergency.

At the meeting, junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said the country lacks peace and stability, a condition to hold a general election, adding it still needs to be under a state of emergency to implement measures to restore the condition, according to the report.

In October, the junta conducted a national census to compile voter lists for the election.