Malatia Liberates Balklands Island: Suva Requests Military Aid

Malatia has announced that its military has liberated Balklands Island from Suvanese occupation.

All fighting in the island has ceased as of 8 pm last night after the Commander of Suvanese Forces in Balklands Island surrendered to Malatian army.

Malatia launched a military offensive to recapture Balklands Island a few days ago.  The campaign involved some 10 warships, 5000 troops and several warplanes. 

After a few days of fighting, Malatian special forces managed to trap the 300 Suvanese troops around the main town of Balklands Island. There were heavy street to street fighting, and running low on food and ammunition, the Suvanese decided to surrender.

Reports indicated that some 40 Suvanese troops were killed and another 100 wounded. On the Malatian side, there were only 6 casualties. 

Malatian warplanes also attacked several Suvanese military installations in Suva itself. The main naval base, two army barracks and a military storage unit were destroyed. The Malatian army however has not invaded Suva yet.

The Suvanese Royal Family had sought aid from other NARTO countries against Malatia. However the Kingdom of Equanter, which is the current chairman of NARTO, has declined to provide any military assistance as the conflict was initiated by Suva at the urging of the Kingdom of Lego.

"This is an unjust war. Suva should have stood against Wingo but it chose to serve Wingo's interests instead and provoked Malatia into war. There is a general feeling within NARTO that we should not help Suva," said an Equanterian defence official. 

The Kingdom of Lego has promised to send its special forces to help Suva, but so far the promise has not materialised yet. In desperation, Suva has sought the United Nations (UN) assistance to deploy peacekeepers along its border with Malatia.

In the Kingdom of Lego, thousands of protesters marched to the Parliament and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Rito Wingo. Many of the protesters are accusing Wingo of provoking a war with Malatia in order to consolidate his power.