Fighting between ethnic rebels and government soldiers has caused at least 20,000 Burmese to flee

Refugees who fled into Thailand amid the clashes are slowly returning to Myanmar [Reuters]

Refugees, who fled clashes along Myanmar's border with Thailand following Sunday's general elections, have been slowly returning home.

Fighting between Myanmar government troops and ethnic Karen fighters had sent at least 20,000 people fleeing into neighbouring Thailand.

The refugees, who were forced to flee to the Thai border town of Mae Sot, have now started heading back to Myanmar after the government said on Tuesday that the battles had ceased.

Clashes were reported on Monday in the military-led nation at key points on the border with Thailand, leaving at least three people dead and 10 others wounded on both sides of the frontier.

The clashes followed a demonstration against the fairness of the elections as well as attempts to force ethnic minority troops to join a border guard force - which would put them under state control.

Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas, reporting from Mae Sot, on the Thai side of the border, said that the refugees were given reassurances by the Myanmar government that it was now safe to return home.

"Thai soldiers remain watchful as news spread of continuing fighting in other Myanmar border towns," she said.

"The flow of people may have reversed from Thailand to Myanmar, but fears remain they could be returning to a ticking bomb."

Military appointees

The ongoing civil war has wracked parts of Myanmar since independence in 1948 and observers say the state's determination to crush ethnic anti-government fighters appeared to have increased in the lead up to the election.

In the heaviest battle, fighters reportedly seized a police station and post office on Sunday in the Myanmar border town of Myawaddy. Sporadic gun and mortar fire continued into Monday afternoon.

Two days after polls closed, only a few results have been announced, and official figures on voter turnout from the election have yet to emerge.

The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) appears certain to win an overwhelming number of seats, despite widespread popular opposition to 48 years of military rule.

The constitution sets aside 25 per cent of parliamentary seats for military appointees and officials of the USDP are said to be claiming up to 80 per cent of seats after the elections.

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Yangon, who remains anonymous due to reporting restrictions there, said that USDP had confirmed that they were on track to win at least 80 per cent of the seats.

"You need 75 per cent of the House on your side to pass any laws," he said.

"When you take into account the number of seats the USDP will win, and the fact that 25 per cent of the seats in the first place were reserved for the military, those few remaining elected nominees will have very little power."

'Widespread fraud'

Members of political parties that took part claim the polls were blatantly rigged, and believe they are the victims of widespread fraud in favour of the pro-military USDP.

The National Unity Party (NUP), which is generally considered to be pro-military, has also accused the authorities of rigging the results to ensure a near clean sweep for USDP candidates.

Speaking on Tuesday in Yangon, the capital, Aye San, an NUP parliamentary candidate, complained that the USDP "should be satisfied with winning 70-75 per cent, but it seems they want to win over 90 per cent, or even 100 per cent of the seats".

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, said on Monday that voting conditions had been "insufficiently inclusive, participatory and transparent".

Than Nyein, chairman of the National Democratic Force, created by former members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said the election was marred by irregularities.

"It's very different from our expectation because of foul play," he told the AFP news agency.

"We have our evidence. Some candidates complained ... because there was vote cheating."

The party was disbanded this year after boycotting the elections.

Suu Kyi's term of house arrest is supposed to expire on Saturday, though the military government has kept silent over whether it will grant her freedom.

Source:http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/11/201011915534116361.html