Burmese rebels join forces, launch offensive in country's northeast

An alliance of ethnic rebel groups on Friday launched a coordinated offensive in northeastern Burma to seize military targets in areas near the Chinese border, the groups and residents of the area said. The Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, calling themselves the Three Brotherhood Alliance, said in a joint statement that they have begun "Operation 1027" in Burma's Shan state. The offensive could become a new major front in t