Three civilians have been killed and another six injured — four seriously – after Burmese troops launched a series of mortar attacks into the heart of the Kachin rebel stronghold in Laiza on Monday morning.
It is the first civilian casualties reported in central Laiza since government forces stepped up its offensive against the rebel base last month.
Local sources say two mortar attacks hit a residential area early on Monday, killing three people, including a 15-year-old boy. A two-year-old is reported to be among the seriously injured.