The information comes from witnesses and local media who describe the recent days' fighting in the country as the most violent so far since Myanmar's national unity government earlier this week called for a "defense war".

So far, at least 20 people have been killed.

More than half of the victims, both local militiamen and civilians, are said to have been killed in the village of Myin Thar in the Magwai region, where the ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party is based.

"I have lost everything"

According to a witness, three of the deceased are children.

- They fired artillery fire, they burned down the houses in our village.

I have lost everything, a resident of the area who himself states that he lost his 17-year-old son who fought for the militia in the fighting, tells Reuters.

Military spokesman Zaw Min Tun confirms to local media that fighting has taken place in the Magway region, something that Reuters has not yet confirmed.

According to media reports, three soldiers were also killed in fighting in the capital Yangon on Thursday.

During the night, there must also have been fighting with air attacks in Thantlang at the border with India.

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Here, the shadow president declares war on the military junta in Myanmar. Photo: Reuters