More civilian deaths reported Wednesday as fighting continues in Shan state in northern Myanmar between armed ethnic rebel groups and the Myanmar Army.

On Tuesday, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) launched dawn attacks on military positions in the town of Kyaukme, which sits on a vital trade route to China.

The attacks were the latest breach of a China-brokered ceasefire in January that ended weeks of fighting in Shan state between the military and the TNLA and two other allied ethnic armed groups.

Border trade with China during April-May was down by almost a third compared to the same period last year, junta-controlled media reported earlier this month.

Al Jazeera.