Burma ends rebel talks early

Karen rebels have been fighting for autonomy for 50 years

Burma's military has cut short talks with the Karen National Union (KNU), the nation's largest rebel group.

The move appears to be connected to the surprise dismissal of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt on Tuesday.

A 16-member Karen delegation was told to leave Rangoon and return to the KNU base on the Thai border.

The KNU, which has been fighting for autonomy for more than 50 years, is the only major ethnic group yet to sign a formal ceasefire with the ruling junta.

Burma's military rulers announced on Tuesday that Khin Nyunt had left his post for "health reasons", and was being replaced by the more hardline Lt Gen Soe Win.

But officials in Thailand said Khin Nyunt had been forced from office as a result of a power struggle with the country's top general Than Shwe, and was under house arrest on charges of corruption.

Khin Nyunt was seen as responsible for persuading 17 ethnic groups to sign ceasefire agreements with the military regime.

His departure has ignited fears that the military will now take a tougher line against ethnic groups opposed to the current regime.

So far no pact has been signed with the Karen rebels, although the two sides agreed a provisional truce in January.

The KNU delegates were in Rangoon for talks on the ongoing peace process.

But on Monday the junta asked the KNU delegation to leave the capital because it was not ready for a meeting that was due to start that day, according to spokesman Nierdah Mya.

"The talks have not been held because the government has political problems," Mr Nierdah told the French news agency AFP.

Ethnic minority groups make up about a third of Burma's population of 50 million.