MORE THAN 13 MYANMAR SOLDIERS KILLED BY ETHNIC REBELS

Fighters opposed to Myanmar's military junta fought with troops in the east of the country on Sunday, and claimed to have killed more than 13 members of the security forces, captured four and razed a police station, local media said, Reuters reported.

The fighting near the border of Southern Shan and Kayah states was the latest in a resurgence of conflict in parts of the Southeast Asian country since the coup that overthrew elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Members of a People's Defense Force, set up since the coup, told the Irrawaddy news service they had killed at least 13 members of the security forces when they overran a police station near the town of Mobye. They told other media that even more died in a later clash 20 km (13 miles) to the south.

Reuters was unable to reach a junta spokesman for comment on the fighting. State television made no mention of the clash.

Videos shared on social media showed what appeared to be the uniformed bodies of security forces members and smoke pouring from the destroyed police post and a police vehicle at Mobye.

Other pictures showed four men who were said to be police with their hands behind their backs, blindfolded with surgical masks. The Progressive Karenni People Force, a network of local groups, said one fighter had been killed at Mobye.

As fighting spread to Demoso to the south, the army brought reinforcements and armored vehicles, local media said.

The Mizzima news service said thousands of people had fled after dozens of artillery rounds landed in their neighborhood.

An alliance of four ethnic armed groups which are also against the coup battled early on Sunday with security forces in Muse, one of the main crossings to China, Myanmar media said.

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