4 children among 19 civilians killed, set on fire by Burmese soldiers

Soldiers from Burma's military government have reportedly killed 19 villagers — four of whom were children —on the nation's southern coast.

Radio Free Asia, a U.S.- funded news service, quoted a member of the locally formed People’s Defense Force as saying the killings occurred after fighting the same day between the army and his group and its allies from the Karen National Liberation Army, an ethnic rebel group that operates in the area. He said the resistance forces killed 20 soldiers and captured three officers.

A farmer from the village told The Associated Press that he lost his wife, 7-year-old daughter and nine other relatives in the raid by about 10 soldiers.