According to the National Unity Government (NUG), 40 Myanmar military soldiers were killed by a coalition of anti-junta forces during a day of intense fighting in the Karen State town o .
Thousands of residents in Lay Kay Kaw, which is only about 20 km (12.43 miles) from the Thai border, had already fled fighting in December around the town that has been a refuge for pro-democracy supporters since the army seized power last year. A spokesman for the Karen National Union (KNU), which is Myanmar's oldest ethic rebel group, said the army appeared to be reinforcing the area after Sunday's clashes though he had not yet received reports of fresh fighting on Monday.