Fighting in Myanmar Kokang region intensifies

Fighting in Myanmar's Kokang region has intensified as the gov't forces launched six air strikes against the Kokang ethnic army Saturday afternoon in a bid to retake the posts of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the military-run media Myawaddy reported Sunday.

The government side lost four with 11 others being wounded, seizing some small weapons from the Kokang ethnic army.

Fightings were also engaged between the government forces and a combined armed groups of Kokang, Palaung and Rakhine near Laukkai, the capital of Kokang region, on Friday with the military retrieving Point 2014 Hill, a strategic post of MNDAA, the report said, adding that due to attack of the government troops, forces of the MNDAA were retreating.

The government forces claimed earlier that they could occupy a number of strategic hills in Kokang region in their offensive over last week against the MNDAA with heavy weapons, forcing the MNDAA to retreat from Point-1789 Hill where they based.

Due to the occupation of these hills, the government could reopen the Laukkai-Kongyan communication route for secure transport.

An unconfirmed compiled statistics also revealed that as of now, the government side suffered 66 deaths with 138 wounded, while 85 bodies were seized from the MNDAA with 30 being arrested.

As Laukkai's situation improves, a total of 2,746 displaced people have so far returned home through border post No. 125 and Yanlonkyaing border checkpoint, the government claimed. Endi