Myanmar's military used artillery and helicopters on Monday against anti-junta militias in the country's east, witnesses said, forcing residents to flee and join thousands of others displaced by recent fighting in the region, Reuters reported.

Residents of Kayah state bordering Thailand said the military was firing artillery from positions inside the state capital Loikaw into Demoso, about 14.5 km (9 miles) away, where a People's Defence Force said it had attacked troops and was coming under heavy fire.

On its Facebook page, the Karenni People's Defence Force, a militia active throughout Kayah state, said it was engaged in clashes with the military, which had deployed two helicopter gunships to carry out air strikes on Monday evening.