Myanmar closes its border with Thailand

Myanmar closed three major border checkpoints on Wednesday in the latest salvo in an escalating row following Thai artillery shelling across...

Myanmar closed three major border checkpoints on Wednesday in the latest salvo in an escalating row following Thai artillery shelling across the frontier earlier this week, Thai military officer said.

A senior Thai Army officer said Myanmar had shut the northern border crossing between Mae Sai and Tachilek, the western checkpoint between Mae Sot and Myawadi, and the crossing between Ranong and Victoria Point on the Andaman Sea coast.

Major General Saprang Kalayanamitr, deputy commander of the Thai northern region, said he was told by Myanmar that the border crossings were closed for security reasons.

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Earlier on Wednesday, Thailand said it would withdraw thousands of troops from northern provinces bordering Myanmar in an effort to ease tension after a series of clashes between rival ethnic militias along the frontier.

Thai Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said he had ordered the Thai Army to call off military exercises in four border provinces after Myanmar complained that Thai troops were involved in attacks on its border posts. Yangon sent a protest letter to Bangkok on Monday saying the Thai Army provided artillery support for an attack by the Shan State Army ethnic militia on Myanmar border stations.