Burma’s government has blamed ethnic Kachin rebels for starting a week of fighting along the country’s north eastern border with China.

Burma’s military authorities arrested dissidents in raids today even as they responded to international pressure with apparent moves toward talks with their archenemy, democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, an exile group said.

A relentless crackdown on Burma’s pro-democracy activists showed no sign of easing today as the junta announced that 78 more people had been detained, despite world outrage and new sanctions.