Story highlights Fighting leaves 73 government troops wounded, state-run newspaper reports

Military conducted airstrikes, but no numbers on rebel or civilian casualties are given

(CNN) Days of clashes with rebels from a minority ethnic group in northern Myanmar have left 47 government soldiers dead and dozens more wounded, state media reported Friday.

The fighting with the Kokang rebels began Monday in the town of Laukkai, near the border with China, the state-run newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar said.

It reported that 73 government troops had been wounded in the clashes between Monday and Thursday but didn't provide any information about casualties among the rebels or civilians.

The Kokang guerrilla forces "were found to be good at military maneuvering with the use of scores of heavy weapons including anti-aircraft machine guns," the report said.

Multiple ethnic groups in Myanmar are seeking greater autonomy. Violence continues to erupt in some of the long-standing conflicts despite government efforts to reach a peace agreement.

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