Sniper shoots dead Myanmar brigadier-general in helicopter

YANGON: Four members of the Myanmar security services including a were shot dead by sniper fire on Monday as their helicopter prepared to land, a military source told AFP.

Brigadier General Aye Min Naung, his personal security officer and two pilots were shot by a “sniper” as their helicopter prepared to land at eastern Thingannyinaung town near Myawaddy on the Thai border, the security source said.

The brigadier general later died, the source said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to talk to the media. Two other servicemen on the helicopter had “survived,” they added, without giving details.

The source did not say how many snipers had shot at the helicopter, or attribute blame for the shooting.

The junta has clashed regularly around Myawaddy with ethnic minority fighters and allied “People´s Defence Force” groups in recent months.