Hundreds flee fresh clashes in Myanmar\\\'s Kachin state

YANGON, Jan 15 (BSS/AFP): Hundreds of villagers fled their homes in northern Myanmar's war-torn Kachin state Thursday, an activist said, as fresh clashes erupted between rebels and government troops after a local politician was briefly taken hostage.

The army launched new attacks against ethnic Kachin rebels before dawn in Hpakant township after government-backed media said the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) took the state transport minister Kamann Du Naw and three policemen hostage.

The minister was released soon after but the police officers were still being held, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

"Around 800 people from three different villages in Hpakant have fled their homes to escape the fighting. They are taking shelter in monasteries and churches," Khon Ja, an activist from the Kachin Peace Network, said by telephone from Yangon.

Confirming the clashes, a local rebel commander said the army started shooting before dawn and fighting had raged throughout the day.

"We haven't had such strong fighting like this in more than a year," the KIA's Colonel Tan Seng told AFP from the rebel-stronghold of Laiza.

Around 100,000 people have been displaced in the remote, resource-rich state bordering China since a 17-year ceasefire between the government and the rebels broke down in June 2011.

Tensions have spiked in recent weeks after a November attack by the army on a rebel training centre near their headquarters in the town of Laiza.

The shelling left more than 20 cadets dead, with an unknown number of insurgent casualties.

On Thursday state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar reported that a female unit "of the Tatmadaw (army) is in hot pursuit of the KIA troops" after the rebels held the minister and policemen hostage.