Myanmar declares state of emergency in Kokang region

YANGON -- The Myanmar government declared a state of emergency in Kokang region of the northeastern Shan State on Tuesday and introduced martial law following week-long armed clashes between the government forces and the Kokang ethnic army.

The announcement, which was signed by President U Thein Sein and broadcast through state radio and television, said armed clashes in the Kokang region are widespread and leading to the failure of the local government administration mechanism.

The state of emergency will be effective for 90 days, the announcement said.

The government also declared martial law, entrusting full administrative and judiciary power to the country's Commander-in- Chief of the Defense Services Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing to handle the urgent affairs of the region.