YANGON, April 22, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Myanmar's junta on Tuesday prolonged a 
ceasefire declared after last month's devastating earthquake to April 30, 
after aid groups and international mediators called for an extension to ease 
relief efforts.

The junta -- which seized power in a 2021 coup sparking a many-sided civil 
war -- said it would cease attacking its myriad armed opponents following the 
magnitude-7.7 quake which has killed more than 3,700.

Conflict monitors and residents in combat zones say fighting continued on 
both sides during the 20-day truce, declared to spur aid delivery in 
Myanmar's central belt and which was due to expire at midnight (1730 GMT).

The ceasefire was extended to April 30 "aiming to continue the rebuilding and 
rehabilitation process with momentum", the junta information team said in a 
statement.

But the military said it would not hesitate to retaliate if other armed 
groups launched attacks -- as it said when it announced the ceasefire.

The March 28 earthquake has left more than 60,000 people living in tent 
encampments and pushed two million people into "critical need of assistance 
and protection", according to the UN.

Despite continued fighting, humanitarian groups and regional powers have 
called for the pause on hostilities to be prolonged as aid efforts continue 
into their fourth week.

On Thursday, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing flew to Bangkok to meet Malaysian 
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for rare backroom talks with the chair of the 
10-country ASEAN bloc.

Anwar, whose country currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said he had also spoken to 
Myanmar's opposition "National Unity Government" which promised a similar 
truce after the tremor.

Both sides agreed "they would do whatever is necessary to avoid any extension 
of the fighting", Anwar told reporters after the meeting.