Heavy fighting between Myanmar forces, ethnic army near border

Heavy fighting between Myanmar government forces and Arakan ethnic army has occurred near Myanmar Rakhine-Bangladesh border, the ruling party's Union Daily reported Monday.
The battle came one day ahead of the resumption of the 7th day of the 7th round peace talks between peace negotiators of Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups in Yangon after recess for a week.
During the clashes between the government forces and the Arakan Army on Sunday, shells fell on the government's military camp, forcing the government troops to abandon the camp and retreat, the Arakan Army's press release was quoted as saying.
One army officer was arrested, while one soldier of the government side was killed with weapons being seized by the ethnic army, the release said.
The Arakan Army is described as one of the few ethnic armies which helped in alliance with the Kokang ethnic army in its recent fight with the government forces.
During peace talks in Yangon, fighting also erupted in some more areas in northernmost Kachin state with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and in Ta'ang or Palaung area with the Ta' ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
Meanwhile, the Myanmar military claimed total control of Kokang region in northeastern Shan state in series of heavy fighting which erupted since Feb. 9, according to an earlier report of the daily.