Thousands flee clashes between army and rebels in Myanmar

Thousands of civilians are continuing to flee the Kokang region of north-east Myanmar amid heavy fighting between ethnic minority rebels and the army.

A state of emergency was declared on Tuesday after more than 80 troops and rebels were killed in days of clashes.

The violence was triggered by the return of a rebel leader from the Kokang ethnic group who had been exiled since 2009, state media said.

Aid agencies have suspended operations at the flashpoint city of Laukkai.

It comes after a convoy led by the Myanmar Red Cross was attacked by gunmen on Tuesday, wounding two aid workers.

"We still do not know exactly how many people are still trapped in the Laukkai region," a Red Cross member told AFP new agency. "But we evacuated around 30 people from there on Wednesday."

"We are asking both sides to keep a ceasefire for a few days, so we can help to evacuate people. Currently, even our Red Cross logo cannot help to protect people. It's really sad."

Chinese state media says 30,000 ethnic Kokang from Shan state are believed to have crossed the border into China. Chinese authorities say they have stepped up border controls and called for an end to the fighting.

Many others have gone to the city of Lashio which is about 140km (85 miles) south of Laukkai.

The BBC's Jonah Fisher, who visited nearby Chin Swe Haw in the Kokang special region, said it was a ghost town with only soldiers on the streets.

A Myanmar Red Cross volunteer was wounded by gunfire

The ethnic minorities of Myanmar (also known as Burma) have sought greater autonomy for decades and the government is due to sign a peace agreement with all of them next month.

The latest fighting broke out last week in Laukkai, the capital of the Kokang region, where 50 soldiers and 26 rebels died.

The government has said four different rebel groups are involved, including the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

Rebel leader, and former drug lord, Phone Kya Shin is believed to be at the centre of the resurgence in fighting.

He was forced to flee by Burmese troops in 2009 - but he has now returned from exile in China promising to improve the rights of the Kokang people.