Myanmar rebels seize more junta outposts

Ethnic armed groups seized a handful of military outposts in Myanmar on Saturday as they pressed their offensive against the junta in the north of the country, local media reports said.

Local media reports said Ta'ang National Liberation Army fighters on Saturday seized two outposts controlled by pro-military militia near Lashio, the largest town in northern Shan state and home to the military's northeastern command.

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army said it had seized three military outposts further to the east.

The junta was yet to comment on Saturday's clashes but on Thursday a spokesperson dismissed as "propaganda" claims that the alliance had captured several towns in Shan state.

The junta on Saturday said the Kachin Independence Army, another ethnic armed group based in neighboring Kachin state, had joined the attacks on its forces, and that it would retaliate.

Local media reported the junta had shelled the remote town of Laiza on the Chinese border, home to the KIA's headquarters.

Agence France-Presse has attempted to reach the TNLA and KIA for comment.

AFP journalists were stopped Saturday in China's Yunnan province at a permanent police checkpoint about 50 kilometers up the valley from the border crossing of Chinshwehaw, which the Myanmar military said on Wednesday it had lost control over.                                     

 WITH AFP