Burma sacks forty corrupt officials

Reports from Burma say that about forty officials in Karen state bordering Thailand have been dismissed for bribery and corruption.

Police officers and officials from the customs and immigration services were reportedly among those dismissed.

The dismissals follow a visit to the region last month by the government's second-in-command, General Maung Aye.

The Burmese government has not confirmed the reports.

But correspondents say that there is a thriving black market in the area, with smugglers bringing cooking oil and other day-to-day necessities from Thailand to Burma, and logs in the other direction.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service