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Myanmar military officer killed in clashes with ethnic armed group in western state

Xinhua, April 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Myanmar military officer was killed and some wounded in clashes with an Arakan ethnic armed group in the western Rakhine state at the weekend, official media reported on Tuesday.

One battalion commander was killed and several others injured as members of the Arakan Army (AA), disguised as villagers, ambushed a military column, the Defense Ministry said.

Another clash took place while the military was launching a combing operation after receiving tip-off that a 100-member AA contingent entered an area near Kyauktaw town of the state early this month.

The military captured the AA's temporary base and seized some weapons as the armed group retreated.

Last month, the AA also ambushed the government troops guarding workers who were building a border fence along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, resulting in casualties.

According to earlier report, the AA launched operations a year ago to establish strongholds in Paletwa and Kyauktaw but withdrew from the areas later after engagement with the government troops.

At least 15 clashes between the two sides had occurred in December and January in the Ranchaung-RuChaung area of Kyauktaw, Rakhine state.

The AA is among those remaining groups not included in a nationwide ceasefire deal between the government and eight ethnic armed groups in October last year. Endit