Insurgents from Myanmar’s ethnic minorities  attacked five locations in the east of the country, leaving 14 people dead and four police officers missing. Myanmar’s military says, the attacks occurred in the state of Shan and elsewhere yesterday. The targets included a military academy.  A coalition of armed groups demanding greater autonomy issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attacks.

The statement said the groups launched the attacks as Myanmar’s military and police had been stepping up offensive operations and crackdowns in areas where the minorities live. The military says the attackers destroyed equipment used to impede trafficking of illegal drugs.

Myanmar’s Government places top priority on achieving peace with armed units of ethnic minorities. But negotiations between the two sides have not made the progress the government had hoped for.