Myanmar: More than 130 dead in fighting near China border

Myanmar’s army on Saturday said more than 130 people had died in a deepening battle with rebels in the northeast, declaring it would not rest till stability was restored to the border area which thousands have fled.

Myanmar’s army on Saturday said more than 130 people had died in a deepening battle with rebels in the northeast, declaring it would not rest till stability was restored to the border area which thousands have fled.

Fighting raged in the remote Kokang region of Shan state where conflict erupted on February 9 when insurgent attacks on soldiers triggered a military onslaught, prompting at least 30,000 civilians to escape into bordering China.

In the first press conference since clashes began, defence ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Mya Htun Oo said the conflict had killed 61 military and police officers and around 72 insurgents.