Bangladesh troops fight Myanmar rebels, take weapons

DHAKA, July 12 (Reuters) Bangladesh troops fought a gunbattle with suspected rebels from Myanmar and destroyed a hideout in forests between the two countries today, officials said.

The rebels fled across the border leaving behind several weapons and some ammunition at the hideout at Naikhongchari, 450 km southeast of the capital Dhaka.

''None of our troops was injured, but blood spots at the hideout suggest that some of the rebels were wounded. However, they managed to flee,'' a senior officer of the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles said.

The gunfight erupted as the unit's troops raided the hideout following an intelligence tip.

Several Buddhist and Muslim rebel groups, fighting against military rule in Myanmar's western state of Rakhaine (Arakan), often intrude into Bangladesh forests and set up temporary camps when pursued by Myanmar forces, another security official said.

Bangladesh troops have raided several camps, captured some 50 rebels, and seized substantial amounts of weapons and ammunition in the border forests over the past two years.

REUTERS AE SSC1409