Heavy Military Clashes: Martial Law Declared

Heavy military clashes are taking place at the outskirts of Maname as Malatian army units attempt to capture the provincial capital of Equanter's Eastern Province.

Malatian 3rd and 7th Infantry Division backed by the elite 100th Malatian Commando Division have surrounded Maname from three fronts. Some 35,000 Malatian troops have been pressing against the Equanterian defense perimeter around Maname since the past 48 hours.

"Equanterian troops are still holding onto the outskirts of the city, even though enemy forces have been shelling on them since the past 48 hours," claimed a reporter stationed in Maname through a telephone interview.

Reports from residents indicate that Malatian forces have overrun Maname's airport yesterday after pushing out elements from the 2nd Equanterian King's Own Regiment (KOR). Other reports however state that other Equanterian troops, numbering some 2,000 men, have managed to resist Malatian assaults at the outskirts of Maname.

As Malatian forces have tightened their grips on the Equanterian Eastern Province, the Royal Equanter Government has declared martial law last night and imposed night curfew throughout the Kingdom.

"His Excellency the King of the Kingdom of Equanter has granted the request of the Prime Minister to declare Martial Law throughout the Kingdom, in view of the worsening security condition," said a Royal Palace statement.

The Royal Palace confirmed that the Royal Family has decided to stay in the city and support his subjects in the war efforts. There have been speculations that the Royal Family could be evacuated to another NARTO country for their safety.

In other reports, four more Malatian warplanes were shot down yesterday during an attack sorties over the sky in De Quan, while in the Kingdom of Fabu, dozens of tanks were reported to be moving towards the border with Equanter. The Kingdom of Fabu is part of the NARTO military alliance, and has pledged to send troops to support the war efforts. So far nor Fabu troops have been sent to the war front yet.

"NARTO stands for No Action Royalists Talk Only," exclaimed an exhausted Equanterian defence official.