Major General Thura Myint Aung, who heads a government panel charged with ending the practice of forcing minors into the army, told state media that from 2002 to 2007, officials had returned 792 children from the military to their parents.

The official New Light of Myanmar newspaper quoted him as saying the authorities had 'taken action' against 43 military personnel, including some officers.

The paper gave no details on the punishments handed down.

Thura Myint Aung urged military commanders 'not to accept the minors who try to enlist themselves in the armed forces.'

Rights groups accuse both the military and ethnic rebel groups in Myanmar of forcibly recruiting children to fight in the civil war that has raged for decades.

Four years ago the government formed a committee to work with UN agencies on ending the practice, which is officially illegal.

Human Rights Watch estimates that as many as 70,000 boys as young as 11 still serve in Myanmar's national army, while up to 7,000 have been recruited into different armed rebel groups.

Myanmar has been ruled by the military since 1962. -- AFP