Armed groups continue to bomb town in northern Myanmar

YANGON -- Armed groups continued to attack a town in northern Myanmar's Shan state as clashes broke out between Myanmar government forces and ethnic armed groups last weekend, the Information Committee of the State Counselor's Office said Sunday.

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) fired one mortar with 40mm rocket launcher and two 60mm mortars at Kutkai town from two separate locations Friday night but retreated after the government's security forces returned fire.

The 60mm shells fired by the armed groups exploded near Lweon village, while the 40mm bomb landed near the grove close to Myoma State High School.

Two armed men on a motorcycle fired at least four rounds in drive-by shootings.

Moreover, armed groups also fired on police outpost at Namkhai bridge near Namhkai village in Kutkai.

Military conflicts erupted in border area of northern Myanmar's Shan state early Sunday after an alliance of three ethnic armed groups launched attacks on government's military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai towns as well as a border trade center.