Clashes At Border: Scores Killed

Equanterian troops firing onto Malatian positions yesterday.

Equanterian and Malatian military forces have clashed along their common border yesterday. Heavy exchange of artillery and mortar fires were reported as Equanterian troops tried to repel Malatian troops occupying Equanterian territory along the border.

According to reports from the frontline, some 500 Malatian troops had crossed into Equanter at around 5 am this morning.  Equanterian military posts along the border quickly went on the alert and troops from the 1st King Own Regiment (KOR) were dispatched to engage the intruders.

Exchanges of fire took place at 5.30 am near the village of Smallville as Equanterian troops started to repel the Malatian intruders. Malatian artillery inside Malatia began bombarding Equanterian positions inside Equanter itself in support of the intruders. In retaliation, Equanter artillery and mortar units opened fire onto Malatian positions inside Malatia itself.

As of 10 am this morning, Radio Equanter reported that the intruders have been pushed back across the border. According to eyewitnesses, some 15 Equanterian troops were killed and another 45 wounded during the clashes. Malatian troops suffered 30 killed and 21 wounded.

Malatia denied that its forces had crossed into Equanter. The Malatian Defence Ministry claimed that its troops were on routine patrol when it came under fire from Equanterian forces.

"We will punish Equanter with fire and fury that they have never seen before", said the Malatian Defence Ministry spokesman.

Defence analysts believed that the incursion by Malatian forces was a test on Equanterian military capabilities before a full scale invasion. As of 12 pm today, Malatia continued to reinforce its forward military positions along the border with Equanter.