Yangon, Feb 17 (IANS): The Myanmar government Tuesday declared a state of emergency and imposed martial law in the Kokang region of Shan state following week-long armed clashes between the government forces and the Kokang ethnic army.

The announcement, signed by President U. Thein Sein and broadcast through state radio and television, said armed clashes in the northeastern region were widespread and leading to the failure of the local government administration mechanism, Xinhua reported.

The state of emergency will be effective for 90 days, the announcement said.

The government also declared martial law, entrusting full administrative and judiciary power to the country's Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to handle the urgent affairs of the region which borders China's Yunnan province.

Thousands of people in the region have fled violence after the clashes intensified between the government forces and rebels last week.