FIGHTING between ethnic minority rebels and Burmese government troops has sent at least 10,000 refugees across the border into Thailand after a widely criticised election that is expected to usher in a parliament sympathetic to the military regime.

Fighting between ethnic minority rebels and Burmese government troops has sent at least 10,000 refugees across the border into Thailand after a widely criticised election that is expected to usher in a parliament sympathetic to the military regime.

Clashes between rebels and Burmese government troops raged in a key border town today, a day after the country’s first election in two decades – polling which critics say will the cement the military-run government’s power.

Burma government forces have overrun three Karen rebel positions in an offensive that has forced thousands of refugees across the Thai border, an aid group said, even as the rebels claimed to have killed or wounded scores of government soldiers.