Myanmar's Kokang army ambushes gov't troops but retreats: report

Myanmar's Kokang ethnic army ambushed government troops around Kokang's capital of Laukkai but retreated after the government troops launched counter-attack on them, state media reported on Saturday.

The ambush was made by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) at 1150 p.m. local time on Friday but fighting continued till Saturday morning as the government troops combed the area and seized some weapons of the MNDAA.

A hotel in Laukkai was hit in the clashes, the report said.

It was the first renewed fighting between government forces and the MNDAA 10 days after the government lifted military administration order imposed on the Kokang region.

It was also the first clash after Myanmar's Nov. 8 general election for the sake of which MNDAA unilaterally declared ceasefire in June.

The MNDAA was not invited by the government in peace deal although the government initially signed the Nationwide Cease fire Accord (NCA) with eight armed groups on Oct. 15.

The ethnic side proposed MNDAA for inclusion in the signing process but the government suggested separate talks with the group before it is done. Endit