Laos Rebels in More Fighting

Government troops in Laos have clashed with a group of about a hundred anti-government rebels close to the border with Thailand.

Thai police say the rebels seized immigration and customs offices in pre-dawn raids in the town of Pakse, on the Mekong river.

Laotian troops later counter-attacked and drove the rebels out of the town.

Five rebels are reported to have been killed and more than twenty fled into Thailand, where they were arrested.

The BBC South East Asia correspondent says this is most serious confirmed clash between Laotian troops and rebels for some years.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service