Fighting rages in northeastern Myanmar

Fighting continued in Myanmar's Kokang region Tuesday with the government forces combing the areas where troops of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) were retreating, media reported.

Clashes took place four times between the two sides during the day, Xinhua news agency reported citing state radio and TV.

According to Myanmar media , the government forces launched airstrikes on the Kokang ethnic army in some areas of Kokang region in the country's northeastern Shan state Tuesday following the outbreak of fighting between the two sides in Laukkai Monday.

The government terms the MNDAA as renegade Kokang troops.

The government forces' intermittent bombing with some jet fighters started in the morning at about 7 a.m. and lasted until 4 p.m. in Phone Shwe Shan and Kyi Hto Shan areas in the region's Kong Kyan township, the report added.

Fighting broke out Monday afternoon when around 1,000 MNDAA militants launched attacks on several government outposts in Kokang region, covering Laukkai, Tar Shwe Tan, Kong Kyan and Nyan Khun.

The government forces in Laukkai counter-attacked MNDAA in self-defence and accused the Kokang army of undermining peace and stability in the region.