UP Date News about Myawaddy fighting between SOPDC and DKBA (By Reuters)

A group of Myanmar refugees, who crossed over from Myanmar to Thailand when a battle erupted between Myanmar's soldiers and rebels, walk across a stream of water at the Thai border town of Mae Sot November 8, 2010. A clash erupted between ethnic minority Karen rebels and government soldiers in Myanmar's Myawaddy town opposite the Thai border town of Mae Sot, Reuters witnesses on the Thai side of the border said. Several rockets or mortar bombs fell on the Thai side, a witness said. There were no reports of casualties. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

A group of Myanmar refugees, who crossed over from Myanmar to Thailand when a battle erupted between Myanmar's soldiers and rebels, walk across a stream of water at the Thai border town of Mae Sot November 8, 2010. A clash erupted between ethnic minority Karen rebels and government soldiers in Myanmar's Myawaddy town opposite the Thai border town of Mae Sot, Reuters witnesses on the Thai side of the border said. Several rockets or mortar bombs fell on the Thai side, a witness said. There were no reports of casualties. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

4:48 PM: District government officials in the Thai border
town of Mae Sot say about 12,000 people have fled from a clash between Karen rebels and Myanmar government soldiers in the Myanmar town of Myawaddy. Earlier, a Thai officer said up to 20,000 people had fled but that estimate seems high.

Reuters video of clashes on Thai-Myanmar border between government troops and rebels.

by Reuters_BKK at 11/8/2010 9:49:34 AM4:49 PM

4:39 PM: No one expects an imminent end to Western sanctions. But the poll may reduce Myanmar's isolation at a time when neighbouring China has dramatically increased investment in natural gas and other resources in the former British colony also known as Burma.

For the first five months of this year, China has invested about $8 billion in Myanmar, which it sees as strategic ally and important trading partner, especially for its energy-hungry western provinces. (Reuters)
4:37 PM: "There's no doubt the new government will be the military in civilian clothing but the parliament also offers some hope of a gradual transition to a system where there is more space for political debate," said Christopher Roberts, an Asian studies and international relations expert at the University of Canberra. (Reuters)

A group of Myanmar refugees, who crossed over from Myanmar to Thailand when a battle erupted between Myanmar's soldiers and rebels, get down from a pick-up truck at the Thai border town of Mae Sot November 8, 2010. A clash erupted between ethnic minority Karen rebels and government soldiers in Myanmar's Myawaddy town opposite the Thai border town of Mae Sot, Reuters witnesses on the Thai side of the border said. Several rockets or mortar bombs fell on the Thai side, a witness said. There were no reports of casualties. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

by Reuters_BKK at 4:25 PM

4:18 PM: A Thai district government official based near the Three Pagodas Pass on the border with Myanmar said there had been a clash on the Myanmar side and about 1,000 people had fled into Thailand. The official had no details about the clash. Ethnic minority Mon and Karen factions operate in the area where Myanmar government forces are also based. There were no reports of any casualties, the official said.

A Myanmar refugee, who crossed over from Myanmar to Thailand when a battle erupted between Myanmar's soldiers and rebels, carries his relative at the Thai border town of Mae Sot November 8, 2010. A clash erupted between ethnic minority Karen rebels and government soldiers in Myanmar's Myawaddy town opposite the Thai border town of Mae Sot, Reuters witnesses on the Thai side of the border said. Several rockets or mortar bombs fell on the Thai side, a witness said. There were no reports of casualties. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

A group of Myanmar refugees, who crossed over from Myanmar to Thailand when a battle erupted between Myanmar's soldiers and rebels, walk along a street side at the Thai border town of Mae Sot November 8, 2010. A clash erupted between ethnic minority Karen rebels and government soldiers in Myanmar's Myawaddy town opposite the Thai border town of Mae Sot, Reuters witnesses on the Thai side of the border said. Several rockets or mortar bombs fell on the Thai side, a witness said. There were no reports of casualties. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom