YANGON -- Myanmar's state-owned newspapers on Sunday renewed attacks on Thailand, accusing its neighbor of abusing a goodwill visit to Thailand by a Myanmar military leader in April.

Myanmar language newspapers accused the Thai military of spreading "fabricated news" that General Maung Aye, Myanmar's second most powerful leader, did not object to its plan to fight against an ethnic Shan minority group in Myanmar.

They also criticized Thai Defense Minister Chavalit Yongchayudh, saying he had distorted recent incidents that sparked Thai-Myanmar border tensions, Reuters reported.

Myanmar troops, backed by their allies in the United WA State Army (UWSA), launched an offensive last week to recapture bases near the border seized by the Shan State Army (SSA), an ethnic army which the Junta says is tacitly supported by Thai troops.

The Thai Army has denied supporting the SSA, and says the WA is the main producer of heroin and methamphetamines in the notorious Golden Triangle region.

The border skirmishes have strained Thai-Myanmar relations.

Myanmar has closed key border crossings and state-run media have bitterly criticized Thailand. The Thai government, anxious to mend relations, has been pushing for bilateral talks.

"It was reported...that General Maung Aye did not protest when he was informed of the Yodaya's plan to fight against the WA...that news is utterly wrong," the papers said.

Yodaya is the Myanmar version of Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam, the former name for Thailand.

Maung Aye is vice chairman of Myanmar's ruling state peace and development council.

Tensions at the frontier have been heightened by the exploits of the WA army, which Thailand says produces most of the methamphetamine pills that have been flooding across the border.

Thousands of Thai troops massed at the border last month.

They were ostensibly there for a training exercise but military sources said they were preparing for a strike against the WA.

After protests from Myanmar, the troops were withdrawn. But the SSA, one of two main ethnic armies still fighting the Junta in Myanmar, took advantage of the confusion to seize some bases from Myanmar troops.

The Thai Army rejects claims it helped the WA, but says it returned fire when stray shells landed on Thai soil.

The Myanmar newspapers described Defense Minister Chavalit's denial of Thai shelling of Myanmar territory as a lie and dishonest statement.

"The Yodaya military investigation commission made a wrong report. And the defense minister, despite knowing the truth, dishonestly made the wrong statement.

"This incident amounted to infringing sovereignty.

It is not an ordinary problem that can easily be forgotten after just saying sorry," the Reuters said.

bc-myanmar-thailand myanmar-thailand:myanmar says thailand dishonest on border fighting by aung hla tun yangon, june 16 (reuters) - myanmar's state-owned newspapers on sunday renewed attacks on thailand, accusing its neighbour of abusing a goodwill visit to thailand by a myanmar military leader in april.

myanmar language newspapers accused the thai military of spreading "fabricated news" that general maung aye, myanmar's second most powerful leader, did not object to its plan to fight against an ethnic shan minority group in myanmar.

they also criticised thai defence minister chavalit yongchayudh, saying he had distorted recent incidents that sparked thai-myanmar border tensions.

myanmar troops, backed by their allies in the united wa state army (uwsa), launched an offensive last week to recapture bases near the border seized by the shan state army (ssa), an ethnic army which the junta says is tacitly supported by thai troops.

the thai army has denied supporting the ssa, and says the wa is the main producer of heroin and methamphetamines in the notorious golden triangle region.

the border skirmishes have strained thai-myanmar relations.

myanmar has closed key border crossings and state-run media have bitterly criticised thailand. the thai government, anxious to mend relations, has been pushing for bilateral talks.

"it was reported...that general maung aye did not protest when he was informed of the yodaya's plan to fight against the wa...that news is utterly wrong," the papers said.

yodaya is the myanmar version of ayutthaya, the ancient capital of siam, the former name for thailand.

maung aye is vice chairman of myanmar's ruling state peace and development council.

tensions at the frontier have been heightened by the exploits of the wa army, which thailand says produces most of the methamphetamine pills that have been flooding across the border.

thousands of thai troops massed at the border last month.

they were ostensibly there for a training exercise but military sources said they were preparing for a strike against the wa.

after protests from myanmar, the troops were withdrawn. but the ssa, one of two main ethnic armies still fighting the junta in myanmar, took advantage of the confusion to seize some bases from myanmar troops.

the thai army rejects claims it helped the wa, but says it returned fire when stray shells landed on thai soil.

the myanmar newspapers described defence minister chavalit's denial of thai shelling of myanmar territory as a lie and dishonest statement.

"the yodaya military investigation commission made a wrong report. and the defence minister, despite knowing the truth, dishonestly made the wrong statement.

"this incident amounted to infringing sovereignty. it is not an ordinary problem that can easily be forgotten after just saying sorry," the papers said.