Myanmar forces launch offensive to secure Kokang

The Myanmar government forces have launched offensive to secure the main routes leading to Laukkai, the capital of Kokang region in northeastern Shan state over the last two days, a official report said Friday.

During three clashes between the government troops and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, one government soldier was killed and seven others wounded in engagement in the vicinity of the Chinshwehaw-Laukkai and Kongyan-Laukkai routes, Xinhua reported.

The government troops captured two bodies of the Kokang ethnic army and seized some small arms and ammunition, the report said.

The MNDAA, termed as Kokang renegade groups, has cut off some major routes in an attempt to occupy Laukkai, which is still under the government control.

The government forces are in hot pursuit of the retreating MNDAA, the report added.

The Myanmar government declared a 90-day state of emergency in Kokang region Tuesday, imposing martial law in the region following weeklong-armed clashes between the two sides earlier.

Amid the declaration of state of emergency, fighting between the two sides continued on Tuesday and Wednesday near Laukkai with the government troops reportedly ambushed by the MNDAA, Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Shan State Army (SSA)-Wanghai for several times in a number of areas in the state.

In the fighting since Feb 15 in areas of Laukkai, Koneyan and Yan Lone Kyaine, three government forces members and two local civilians were killed, while 32 others including one military officer and six local civilians were injured, earlier report said.

Heavy fighting first broke out on Feb 9 between the two sides in Kokang region. During the prior clashes up to Feb 15, the government forces carried out five air strikes.