Yangon, March 17 (IANS): Fighting continued in Myanmar's conflict-hit Kokang region as the ethnic army launched a series of attacks on government forces.
The fighting took place in Kokang's capital city of Laukkai during the past couple of days, Xinhua reported on Tuesday, citing the state-run Myawaddy TV.
In the clashes, two security officers were killed and five others injured, the report said.
Heavy fighting first broke out between government forces and the rebel group Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in Kokang on February 9.
The conflicts occurred mainly in the cities of Laukkai, Koneyan and Yan Lone Kyaine. As a result, thousands of local people fled to Lashio, a city in Shan state bordering China.
Official statistics show that so far the government has suffered 84 deaths, while the MNDAA has lost 98 of its men and 30 others have been arrested.