Fighting in northern Myanmar kills 47 soldiers

Clashes between government forces and rebels in northern Myanmar's Kokang region since Monday have killed 47 soldiers, while injuring 73 others, Xinhua reported, citing Myanmar's military television Thursday.

Fighting broke out Monday afternoon when around 1,000 rebels of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) launched attacks on several government outposts in the Kokang region.

The Myanmar government terms the MNDAA as renegade Kokang troops.

President U Thein Sein's government has repeatedly reiterated its policy on national reconciliation.

There has been dozens of ethnic armed groups in the country since its independence in 1948.

Talks between the government and the ethnic armed groups have made important progress, but a nationwide ceasefire agreement is yet to be signed.