12 dead in clashes in Myanmar's restive Rakhine

Yangon: Twelve people have died in the north of Myanmar`s Rakhine state in clashes between armed men and troops, state media reported Wednesday, in a sharp escalation of violence in the restive region.

Four soldiers and one attacker were killed on Tuesday when hundreds of men wielding pistols and swords assailed troops in Pyaungpit village.

"After the incident, troops found seven bodies," state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported, referring to clashes with troops in Taung Paing Nyar.