Fighting Reported Along Line of Control

UN Peacekeepers at a roadblock along the Line of Control (LOC) separating government and rebel forces.

The Brikvanian government announced that heavy fighting between ethnic Malatian rebels and government forces are taking place along the Line of Control (LOC) that separates government and rebel-held areas.

Government posts along the LOC reported they came under fire from the rebels. Brikvanian royalist troops returned fire, killing 10 rebels.

The ethnic-Malatian rebels denied they had attack government forces, claiming that they were only responding to attacks . 

Residents near the LOC reported heavy exchanges of gunfire and artillery exchanges since yesterday afternoon.

A statement from the Brikvanian Defence Ministry acknowledged that some fighting is taking place along the LOC. However, the statement claimed ethnic-Malatian rebels had started the fighting. 

"At about 1435 hrs this morning, government forces along the LOC reported coming under fire from the direction of rebel-held areas. In return, government forces returned fire, killing a number of rebels", said the statement.

A government spokesman said that fighting has stopped since 9 pm last night. There is no reported casualties among government forces. 

United Nation peacekeepers along the LOC confirmed that there were several explosions and heavy gunfire taking place along several fronts. However, the UN could not confirm who had started the battles.

Malatian President-for-Life Xitin has announced that Malatia will provide more assistance to the rebels, and accused Brikvania of provoking a war.

"Let me warn Brikvania. We can destroy that small kingdom and send it back to the stone age if we want to.", said Xitin in a press conference last night. Xitin said that Malatia will not stand back if Brikvania attempted to recapture the rebel-held territories.

The Kingdom of Legonia has issued a statement calling all parties to exercise restraint.