Sporadic explosions fill Myanmar northern state in third-day clashes

Sporadic explosions took place in Muse, Myanmar's northern Shan state Tuesday, the third day of armed conflicts between Myanmar government forces and a combined forces of three non-ceasefire signatory ethnic armed groups, according to the release of the Information Committee of the State Counselor's Office .

The combined forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) numbering about 200 stopped a truck loading with water-melons on its way from Mandalay to Muse and destroyed it at a location near Kutkai with grenades and small weapons.

In another incident, some local companies-owned vehicles, on their way from Nan Naing to Kutkai, were also robbed to be used to block the way.

Two drivers were killed and others injured in the clashes, the sources said, adding that the government forces was making clearance operation on the armed groups following the incident.

Military conflicts broke out in border area of northern Myanmar's Shan state early Sunday morning with an alliance of the three ethnic armed groups launching simultaneous and surprise attacks on government's military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai townships as well as a border trade center there.

The government claimed that a total of eight people including one soldier, three policemen, one people's militia and three civilians had so far lost their lives and 29 others injured including nine policemen, two customs officers and 18 civilians.

Their attacks targeted government military outposts and police stations in areas of Muse, Kutkai, Monekoe, Kyukoke, Phangsai, Pangsang, Manken and Kyinsankyawk (Honang). Endit