Myanmar junta targets town, 7 civilians killed

Yangon, April 7

Security forces on Wednesday stormed a town in northwestern Myanmar where some residents had used homemade hunting rifles to resist the military's February seizure of power, killing at least seven civilians and injuring many others, local news reports said.

The online news site Khonumthung Burmese said the attack on Kalay began before dawn. Videos on the site included what appeared to be sounds of rifle fire, high-caliber weapons and grenade explosions. Posts on social media said rocket-propelled grenades were used in the attack, but provided no evidence. The news site said in addition to the seven fatalities, many people were wounded and arrested in the town, also known as Kalemyo. Over half the town's population are members of the Chin ethnic minority.

Security forces have killed 581 protesters in their crackdown on protests against the February 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. — AP