6 Myanmar troops killed in clash with ethnic rebels

An estimated 2,000 Myanmar soldiers engaged in a prolonged firefight with 120 militants of the Karen National Union (KNU) from 9:00 a.m. (0200 GMT) near a KNU base opposite Thailand's Tak province, witnesses in Phob Phra district said.

"Six Myanmar soldiers died in the fighting and two were reportedly injured," a security source attached to a Thai army border task force told AFP.

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There were no reports of any KNU casualties, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Thai villagers reported hearing heavy automatic weapons and artillery fire for several hours along the border.

Two Thai villages in Phob Phra were bombarded by seven mortars launched during the battle, causing only minor damage to three homes but forcing the evacuation of some 600 Thais into local government buildings. Schools near the border were also closed for the day, the Thai military said.

About 500 Karen villagers also fled across the border from Myanmar, witnesses said.

Thai Major Pongsak Ma-In, in charge of the border area in Phob Phra, said the Thai army was closely guarding the frontier "in case any intruders violate Thai territory" and to try to deter further shelling.

"The Thai army has not fired back yet after the seven mortars fell in some Thai villages. Any quick reaction might hurt relations (with Myanmar), but if another series of shells falls, we will fire warning shots."

Skirmishes are common along the border and often involve ethnic rebel groups such as the KNU who oppose Yangon's military rule, or ethnic militias aligned with the junta and who stand accused of trafficking drugs along the porous border.

Officials of the KNU have said that Myanmar troops often fire rockets into Thailand to create misunderstandings between Thai authorities and ethnic groups.