About 20,000 refugees headed home to Burma today after fleeing to Thailand as fighting followed a general election that is certain to keep the ruling military and its allies in power.

Fighting between ethnic rebels and government troops continued for a third day today as activists warned that the violence which sparked a refugee exodus from Burma could escalate in the aftermath of contentious elections.

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.