Yangon, March 18 (IANS): Fighting continued in Myanmar's Kokang region as security forces shelled ethnic army bases near the region's capital of Laukkai.
During clashes in three separate places near Laukkai, three men from the Myanmar military were killed and four others were injured, Myawaddy News portal reported on Wednesday.
As the forces recaptured some strategic hills, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) had to retreat to the north and the northeast, Xinhua reported.
Meanwhile, peace negotiators of the Myanmar government and the country's ethnic armed groups resumed a six-day peace talk in Yangon on Tuesday and agreed to seek political ways to reduce conflicts both in Kokang region and Kachin state.
The seventh round of peace talks would focus on eight remaining points out of 104 of the nationwide ceasefire accord.