Shops, banks closed in Myanmar's border town amid armed clashes

Shops and banks in a border town of Myanmar's northern Shan state had been closed since Tuesday noon due to widespread explosions and assaults on police stations, the Standard Time reported Wednesday.

Following armed clashes since last weekend, local residents in Muse town remained indoor to avoid crossfire. Hundreds of others took shelter in monasteries.

A large number of the residents also fled to neighboring Jiegao town in China's southwestern Yunnan Province.

Meanwhile, the Central Myoma Market and night bazaar in Lashio, the biggest town in Shan state, have been shut down amid sporadic gunfire and explosions in Muse.

Military conflicts broke out in the border area of Shan state early Sunday after three ethnic armed groups launched surprise attacks on government's military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai towns as well as a border trade zone in Muse.

The government claimed that eight people - one soldier, three policemen, a militiaman and three civilians - were killed and 29 others wounded, including nine policemen and 18 civilians.

The armed groups had been targeting military outposts and police stations in Muse, Kutkai, Monekoe, Kyukoke, Phangsai, Pangsang, Manken and Kyinsankyawk (Honang). Endit