Mon rebels of the Monland Restoration Party (MRP) said it lost three soldiers included a major and four guns in a recent fire fight with Burma Army troops based in southern Mon state.

The clash occurred on Ye-Khawza Road, near Kabya village, about seven miles north of Khawza town on June 10 and one Burma Army captain and two soldiers were killed. Two other soldiers were seriously injured.

"Initially we received information that only one soldier was injured. But our Major Eein Dae died on the spot while trying to take the guns from dead Burmese soldiers. He was shot," MRP chairman Nai Pan Nyunt told IMNA.

"When our troops were retreating from the road, we were attacked by Burma Army soldiers and two more of our soldiers were killed. A villager also died," added Nai Pan Nyunt who split from the New Mon State Party six years ago.

"We lost three machine guns, a pistol and a walky-talky" Pan said.

The government troops also seized 300,000 Kyat from Eein Dae's body and some lists promising financial support.

The MRP major Eein Dae had ordered the shooting at a car that carried villagers and Hangan village militia returning from the local pagoda festival in April.

Local people alleged that the MRP had shot innocent villagers. But Eein Dae had denied it and had said they shot at the Burmese militia.

Two weeks ago Eein Dae led MRP troops started collecting tax from the people in the area. Because of Eein Dae's order to Yin Ye villagers to pay tax, the military government arrested and seriously beat village headman and some villagers because they arranged to pay the tax to the MRP.