Off the wire
• China's manned sub collects mysterious deep-see living beings in Indian Ocean  • Australian businesses borrowing less  • Chinese yuan strengthens to 6.1193 against USD  • Market exchange rates in China -- Jan. 15  • Brazil great Ronaldo announces comeback plans  • (Sports)Socceroo forward Kruse echoes China manager's criticism on pitch  • China stock index futures open higher Thursday  • Gold price opens higher in Hong Kong  • China treasury bond futures open higher Thursday  • China stocks open higher Thursday  
You are here: 　 Home

Myanmar armed group ambushes official's convoy

Xinhua, January 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

Myanmar's ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has ambushed a convoy of Kachin state transport minister on a highway in northern Kachin state, official sources said on Thursday.

Shooting in the air, a 25-member KIA squad stopped a convoy of Kachin state transport minister U Kamann Du Naw in Phakant on Wednesday, while the minister was traveling along the Hpakant- Hopin road on an inspection tour.

Although the minister was freed and allowed to proceed after questioning, three policemen, who escorted the official, were abducted with arms and ammunition, the sources said.

The regional authorities are seeking negotiation with the KIA to get back the abductees.

It was another incident that took place between the government and the KIA since November last year when the two sides witnessed several clashes in some areas of Bhamo of the state.

The KIA claimed that a total of 23 trainees were killed and 20 others injured in the government forces' artillery attack on a KIA military training school near Laiza with shells falling on the school.

In May last year, Myanmar government and KIA formed a conflict mediation team in Myitgyina as part of the first phase of implementing a joint monitoring mechanism following a bilateral peace talks between the two sides.

The armies of the two sides had once also clashed in three areas of Kachin state in early April last year. Endi