YANGON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar government forces are striving for the stability in Laukkai, the capital of Kokang region, launching offensives in some areas, official media reported Monday.
The government forces launched tough and brave offensives against the insurgents who held upper hand on the hill while trying to avoid strayed shell into other countries, said the Global New Light of Myanmar.
The Myanmar government said on Sunday that 126 soldiers have been killed and 359 injured so far since a fighting with the Kokang ethnic army erupted on Feb.9.
During the 253 engagements with Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) as of April 15, the government troops seized 74 bodies of the MNDAA, arrested 22 and confiscated 226 arms, ammunition and narcotic drugs.
Heavy fighting has been going on intermittently since Feb.9 between the government forces and the MNDAA which was once the first ethnic armed group having made a peace deal with the former military government.
Meanwhile, peace negotiators of the government and ethnic armed groups concluded talks over a draft nationwide cease-fire agreement on March 30 and the draft accord was preliminarily signed in Yangon on March 31. The document will be signed formally after the approval of the top leadership of all sides concerned.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-04/27/c_134189297.htm
