Myanmar: reports of 15 or more killed after nationwide uprising call

Villagers report school students mong those killed amid fighting with government troops near Gangaw township

Fifteen to 20 villagers, including several teenagers, have been killed in some of Myanmar's deadliest fighting since July between government troops and resistance forces, a villager and reports by independent media said.

The fighting near Gangaw township in the north-western Magway region started on Thursday, two days after a call for a nationwide uprising was issued by the National Unity Government, an opposition organisation that seeks to coordinate resistance to military rule.