Ethnic guerrillas in Myanmar look set to seize important town on Thai border

Captured weapons from Myanmar's military battalion 275 in Thin Gan Nyi Naung, Myawaddy, in this undated photo. (Photo: KNLA & PDF) FILE - Vehicles are in line for custom clearance before crossing a border bridge to Thailand in Myawaddy, Karen State, Myanmar, close to the border with Thailand, May 12, 2012. FILE - Residents from eastern Myanmar are seen after fleeing into Thailand's Tak Province from Myanmar's Myawaddy district, April 6, 2023.

Guerrilla fighters from Myanmar's Karen ethnic minority claimed Monday to be close to seizing control of a major trading town bordering Thailand, as soldiers and civil servants loyal to the military government appeared to be preparing to abandon their positions.