BANGKOK, May 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The Myanmar government Wednesday decided to close some major checkpoints along the Thai-Myanmar Border, accusing Thailand of firing shells into Myanmar's territory.

¡¡¡¡An officer of Tak province, 370 kilometers west to Bangkok, said that hundreds of tourists, local residents and traders were turning away from the Mae Sot checkpoint, which is the important passageway along the border between the two countries.

¡¡¡¡On Monday, the Myanmar government accused Thailand of firing artillery across the border in Chiang Mai province, 700 kilometersnorth to Bangkok, to support anti-government Shan rebels who attacked four military positions held by Myanmar and allied ethnic Wa forces.

¡¡¡¡While, the Thai authority argued that Thai forces only responded to stray shells from Myanmar by firing several warning shots from 105mm artillery into Myanmar. Enditem

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