Parade and dances as Myanmar's Karen rebels mark 70th anniversary of struggle

MYANMAR-THAI BORDER (Reuters) - Thousands of people sporting traditional ethnic costumes and Karen rebel fighters showing off their guns marched, sang and danced last week to celebrate 70 years since the start of the struggle for greater autonomy from Myanmar.

Boasting more than 5,000 soldiers, the Karen National Union (KNU) is one of the most powerful and best-established of the country's myriad militia groups that have fought the government since shortly after Myanmar gained independence in 1948.