Arakan Army rebels overran a police base in Rakhine state, killing two officers and one of their wives, the Myanmar government said on Wednesday, as fresh fighting broke out in a historic Buddhist temple town popular with tourists.

The Information Ministry said around 200 insurgents stormed a police headquarters in Mrauk U before being repelled, but that they abducted four women and three children as they left.

“According to information from the Myanmar police force, the AA (committed an act of) terrorism by attacking a family dormitory and taking unrelated family members like wives and children,” the ministry said in a post on its website.

Arakan Army spokesman Khine Thu Kha said rebels had attacked a police outpost in Mrauk U - where clashes in March wounded six people - but denied they had killed or abducted any civilians.

He denied the site had any dormitory, saying rather that heavy weapons were stored there. “They were shooting from that camp and so it affected the people. So the Rakhine army cleared that. There were many casualties on the Myanmar military side.”

Rakhine came to global attention in 2017 when the Myanmar army drove about 730,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims from the state across the border into neighbouring Bangladesh, following attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts.

More recently, the military has been battling another armed rebel group, the Arakan Army, which draws recruits mostly from the ethnic Rakhine population, who are mainly Buddhists, and is fighting for greater autonomy for the western state.

Government warplanes began strikes on Mrauk U late on Tuesday night, according to two residents, who said a one-year-old child was hospitalised.

“I don’t know whether they are fighting with AA or not,” a local monk, Myo Oo Khaung Sayataw, said on Wednesday as aircraft could be heard flying overhead.

“I saw them shooting from the planes. We don’t dare to go out to the town. The planes are still flying.”

A hotel owner in Mrauk U, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said his roof had been damaged by bullets fired from the air.

“I have never experienced this before. The business is not good anymore. We cannot expect guests to come because this is happening.”

Arakan Army rebels overran a police base in Rakhine state, killing two officers and one of their wives, the Myanmar government said on Wednesday, as fresh fighting broke out in a historic Buddhist temple town popular with tourists.

Arakan Army rebels overran a police base in Rakhine state, killing two officers and one of their wives, the Myanmar government said on Wednesday, as fresh fighting broke out in a historic Buddhist temple town popular with tourists. The Information Ministry said around 200 insurgents stormed a police headquarters in Mrauk U before being repelled, but that they abducted four women and three children as they left. “According to information from the Myanmar police force, the AA (committed an act of) terrorism by attacking a family dormitory and taking unrelated family members like wives and children,” the ministry said in a post on its website. Arakan Army spokesman Khine Thu Kha said rebels had attacked a police outpost in Mrauk U - where clashes in March wounded six people - but denied they had killed or abducted any civilians. He denied the site had any dormitory, saying rather that heavy weapons were stored there. “They were shooting from that camp and so it affected the people. So the Rakhine army cleared that. There were many casualties on the Myanmar military side.” Rakhine came to global attention in 2017 when the Myanmar army drove about 730,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims from the state across the border into neighbouring Bangladesh, following attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts. More recently, the military has been battling another armed rebel group, the Arakan Army, which draws recruits mostly from the ethnic Rakhine population, who are mainly Buddhists, and is fighting for greater autonomy for the western state. Government warplanes began strikes on Mrauk U late on Tuesday night, according to two residents, who said a one-year-old child was hospitalised. “I don’t know whether they are fighting with AA or not,” a local monk, Myo Oo Khaung Sayataw, said on Wednesday as aircraft could be heard flying overhead. “I saw them shooting from the planes. We don’t dare to go out to the town. The planes are still flying.” A hotel owner in Mrauk U, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said his roof had been damaged by bullets fired from the air. “I have never experienced this before. The business is not good anymore. We cannot expect guests to come because this is happening.”

Myanmar rebels storm police base in Rakhine state amid fresh clashes in temple town

Fighting between Myanmar's military and ethnic Rakhine rebels in Mrauk U, the ancient capital of the Rakhine kingdom, has left at least eight locals injured, scaring tourists and sparking fears that the historical monuments are under threat.

Ethnic and religious tensions divide western Rakhine state, where the army forced out some 740,000 Rohingya Muslims in a brutal crackdown in 2017.

Now the military is waging war against the Arakan Army (AA), which claims to represent ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and has killed 22 officers since early January.

Over the weekend the conflict spread to Mrauk U, renowned for its ancient temples and popular with hardier travellers.

"About eight injured people are still getting treatment at Mrauk U hospital," Aung Than Tun, chairman of Garuna Hlaing Blood Donors Association in Mrauk U, told AFP on Wednesday.

He also confirmed the deaths of two men from a nearby village, who were wounded last week from the fighting.

A British tourist posted videos on Twitter of him and his fiancee exploring the temples on Sunday, clearly worried by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/six-wounded-in-gunfire-as-myanmar-soldiers-hunt-insurgents-in-temple-town-204371">sound of gunfire and explosions outside</a>.

Christopher Caddy told AFP they thought it was just military training -- until they came out of one temple and realised the vendors and security had fled.

It suddenly felt "more real", he said, adding that a local arrived on a moped to pick up friends and he told them to get out as well.

As they cycled back to their hotel, they could see soldiers in "combat positions behind the ruins" of a neighbouring pagoda.

Hotels contacted by AFP had no guests left.

One staff member, requesting anonymity, said his hotel had been hit in the crossfire on Sunday night.

"The windows of our hotel were destroyed in the shooting," he said.

Local historian Khin Than told AFP she did not dare to go assess the damage done to the monuments yet.

"There are still armed groups deployed in the hills nearby," she said by phone. "We are still scared."

Myanmar hopes to obtain UNESCO world heritage status for Mrauk U, and the Myanmar Archaeology Association Monday expressed concerns that the ongoing clashes might affect its nomination.

It issued an emergency appeal for all sides to demarcate the town as a "fire-free zone".

The army said they deployed troops to downtown Mrauk U after receiving a tip-off the AA was going to mount an attack.

The insurgent group could not be reached for comment.

Authorities have vowed to crush the rebellion, which has simmered since the group's formation in 2009.

The rebels enjoy widespread support from ethnic Rakhine, who have felt marginalised for decades in one of the country's poorest states.

But thousands have been displaced by the spreading violence which is also edging closer to the state capital Sittwe.

Much of Rakhine is in a strict lockdown and information is difficult to verify independently.

Fighting between Myanmar's military and ethnic Rakhine rebels in Mrauk U, the ancient capital of the Rakhine kingdom, has left at least eight locals injured, scaring tourists and sparking fears that the historical monuments are under threat.

Fighting between Myanmar's military and ethnic Rakhine rebels in Mrauk U, the ancient capital of the Rakhine kingdom, has left at least eight locals injured, scaring tourists and sparking fears that the historical monuments are under threat. Ethnic and religious tensions divide western Rakhine state, where the army forced out some 740,000 Rohingya Muslims in a brutal crackdown in 2017. Now the military is waging war against the Arakan Army (AA), which claims to represent ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and has killed 22 officers since early January. Over the weekend the conflict spread to Mrauk U, renowned for its ancient temples and popular with hardier travellers. "About eight injured people are still getting treatment at Mrauk U hospital," Aung Than Tun, chairman of Garuna Hlaing Blood Donors Association in Mrauk U, told AFP on Wednesday. He also confirmed the deaths of two men from a nearby village, who were wounded last week from the fighting. A British tourist posted videos on Twitter of him and his fiancee exploring the temples on Sunday, clearly worried by the sound of gunfire and explosions outside. Christopher Caddy told AFP they thought it was just military training -- until they came out of one temple and realised the vendors and security had fled. It suddenly felt "more real", he said, adding that a local arrived on a moped to pick up friends and he told them to get out as well. As they cycled back to their hotel, they could see soldiers in "combat positions behind the ruins" of a neighbouring pagoda. Hotels contacted by AFP had no guests left. One staff member, requesting anonymity, said his hotel had been hit in the crossfire on Sunday night. "The windows of our hotel were destroyed in the shooting," he said. Local historian Khin Than told AFP she did not dare to go assess the damage done to the monuments yet. "There are still armed groups deployed in the hills nearby," she said by phone. "We are still scared." Myanmar hopes to obtain UNESCO world heritage status for Mrauk U, and the Myanmar Archaeology Association Monday expressed concerns that the ongoing clashes might affect its nomination. It issued an emergency appeal for all sides to demarcate the town as a "fire-free zone". The army said they deployed troops to downtown Mrauk U after receiving a tip-off the AA was going to mount an attack. The insurgent group could not be reached for comment. Authorities have vowed to crush the rebellion, which has simmered since the group's formation in 2009. The rebels enjoy widespread support from ethnic Rakhine, who have felt marginalised for decades in one of the country's poorest states. But thousands have been displaced by the spreading violence which is also edging closer to the state capital Sittwe. Much of Rakhine is in a strict lockdown and information is difficult to verify independently.

Eight injured in Myanmar temple town violence

At least six people were wounded in gunfire as Myanmar soldiers hunted ethnic Rakhine insurgents in the western town of Mrauk U, residents said on Tuesday and a military convoy was ambushed.

Soldiers moved into the historic temple town on Monday night, marking an intensification of violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State, where security forces have waged a campaign against a militant group called the Arakan Army.

While Rakhine State gained global attention after the army drove about 700,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims across the border into Bangladesh in late 2017, the ethnic Rakhine are largely Buddhist like the majority of Myanmar's people.

The military said in a statement there was "shooting back-and-forth” as insurgents attacked a military convoy approaching Mrauk U before retreating into houses.

Myo Oo Khaung Sayataw, a monk, said he had taken six people to hospital and that a seven-year-old girl with burn wounds was among the casualties.

“I went out to the wounded people, because no one dared to go out,” he said. “I saw six military cars, they were shooting everywhere.”

Mrauk U, the former capital of an ancient kingdom, is popular with foreign travellers visiting its hundreds of centuries-old pagodas, which Myanmar wants classified as a World Heritage Site.

Two British tourists said they heard gunfire and explosions on Sunday.

Christopher Caddy, 32, who lives in Manchester, posted a video on Twitter showed him and his fiancee wandering through a temple.

“If you’re wondering what that noise is outside that’s just the Myanmar army just firing rifles and exploding stuff,” Caddy said.

“We were in the temple for maybe five minutes when we first heard all the shots and explosions,” he told Reuters. “A few minutes later, when I noticed that the gunfire was still continuing I started filming.”

Residents of Mrauk U said the clashes had made them frightened to leave home.

“I don’t dare go out, because of the gunfire,” said Shwe Tun Aung. “I closed my door and am still in the house until now. The situation is not good, civilians are in trouble.”

Military spokesmen did not answer calls from Reuters seeking comment, but a statement posted on Senior General Min Aung Hlaing's website portrayed the fighting as an ambush.

“AA terrorists attacked a military convoy while the convoy was marching into Mrauk U town for security,” the statement said. “AA terrorists took cover in civilian houses.”

A spokesman for the insurgents did not answer phone calls.

Violence intensified

Myanmar’s leaders have vowed to crush the rebels, who are fighting for autonomy for Rakhine, and the violence has intensified since early January, when the Arakan Army launched attacks on police that killed 13.

Clashes have spread since, displacing several thousand people, and authorities have declared large parts of the north of the state off-limits to most aid agencies.

The United Nations head in Myanmar, Knut Ostby, said on Tuesday that he was “deeply concerned” by the reports of fighting and urged all sides to ensure the protection of civilians.

The sentencing on Tuesday of two prominent Rakhine nationalists to 20 years in prison for high treason raised fears that unrest could spiral further out of control.

Dr Aye Maung, a politician, and writer Wai Hin Aung, were found guilty by a court in Sittwe, the state capital.

The pair were arrested in January, 2018 over comments made during an event in Mrauk U marking the anniversary of the fall of the independent Rakhine kingdom to the Burmese in 1785, when they allegedly spoke favourably of the Arakan Army.

The ceremony ended in violence, with police shooting dead seven demonstrators and wounding 12.

The long sentence handed to the two men could further escalate conflict, said Sithu Aung Myint, a political analyst.

“The result will make Rakhine people more frustrated,” he said. “It will likely create further instability in the region.”

At least six people were wounded in gunfire as Myanmar soldiers hunted ethnic Rakhine insurgents in the western town of Mrauk U, residents said on Tuesday and a military convoy was ambushed.

At least six people were wounded in gunfire as Myanmar soldiers hunted ethnic Rakhine insurgents in the western town of Mrauk U, residents said on Tuesday and a military convoy was ambushed. Soldiers moved into the historic temple town on Monday night, marking an intensification of violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State, where security forces have waged a campaign against a militant group called the Arakan Army. While Rakhine State gained global attention after the army drove about 700,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims across the border into Bangladesh in late 2017, the ethnic Rakhine are largely Buddhist like the majority of Myanmar's people. The military said in a statement there was "shooting back-and-forth” as insurgents attacked a military convoy approaching Mrauk U before retreating into houses. Myo Oo Khaung Sayataw, a monk, said he had taken six people to hospital and that a seven-year-old girl with burn wounds was among the casualties. “I went out to the wounded people, because no one dared to go out,” he said. “I saw six military cars, they were shooting everywhere.” Mrauk U, the former capital of an ancient kingdom, is popular with foreign travellers visiting its hundreds of centuries-old pagodas, which Myanmar wants classified as a World Heritage Site. Two British tourists said they heard gunfire and explosions on Sunday. Christopher Caddy, 32, who lives in Manchester, posted a video on Twitter showed him and his fiancee wandering through a temple. “If you’re wondering what that noise is outside that’s just the Myanmar army just firing rifles and exploding stuff,” Caddy said. “We were in the temple for maybe five minutes when we first heard all the shots and explosions,” he told Reuters. “A few minutes later, when I noticed that the gunfire was still continuing I started filming.” Residents of Mrauk U said the clashes had made them frightened to leave home. “I don’t dare go out, because of the gunfire,” said Shwe Tun Aung. “I closed my door and am still in the house until now. The situation is not good, civilians are in trouble.” Military spokesmen did not answer calls from Reuters seeking comment, but a statement posted on Senior General Min Aung Hlaing's website portrayed the fighting as an ambush. “AA terrorists attacked a military convoy while the convoy was marching into Mrauk U town for security,” the statement said. “AA terrorists took cover in civilian houses.” A spokesman for the insurgents did not answer phone calls. Violence intensified Myanmar’s leaders have vowed to crush the rebels, who are fighting for autonomy for Rakhine, and the violence has intensified since early January, when the Arakan Army launched attacks on police that killed 13. Clashes have spread since, displacing several thousand people, and authorities have declared large parts of the north of the state off-limits to most aid agencies. The United Nations head in Myanmar, Knut Ostby, said on Tuesday that he was “deeply concerned” by the reports of fighting and urged all sides to ensure the protection of civilians. The sentencing on Tuesday of two prominent Rakhine nationalists to 20 years in prison for high treason raised fears that unrest could spiral further out of control. Dr Aye Maung, a politician, and writer Wai Hin Aung, were found guilty by a court in Sittwe, the state capital. The pair were arrested in January, 2018 over comments made during an event in Mrauk U marking the anniversary of the fall of the independent Rakhine kingdom to the Burmese in 1785, when they allegedly spoke favourably of the Arakan Army. The ceremony ended in violence, with police shooting dead seven demonstrators and wounding 12. The long sentence handed to the two men could further escalate conflict, said Sithu Aung Myint, a political analyst. “The result will make Rakhine people more frustrated,” he said. “It will likely create further instability in the region.”

Six wounded in gunfire as Myanmar soldiers hunt insurgents in temple town

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Myanmar rebels storm police base in Rakhine state amid fresh clashes in temple town

Eight injured in Myanmar temple town violence

Six wounded in gunfire as Myanmar soldiers hunt insurgents in temple town