Myanmar urged to end air strikes on Kachin rebels

YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar is facing growing international pressure to halt air attacks on ethnic minority rebels in Kachin state, where an escalating conflict has overshadowed wider political reforms.

Fighting between the military and the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) in the far north of the country, also known as Burma, has worsened in recent days as the army battled to regain one of its bases.

"We're obviously deeply troubled by the increased violence," US State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland said in Washington late on Wednesday, noting that Myanmar had admitted using aerial weapons in Kachin.

"We are continuing to urge the government of Burma and the Kachin Independence Organisation to cease this conflict, to get to a real dialogue to address grievances as the government of Burma has been able to do in virtually all of the other conflict areas," Ms Nuland added.