Myanmar's Karen rebels restart cease-fire talks

BANGKOK — Leaders of Myanmar's most enduring ethnic rebel movement are traveling from their stronghold on the Thai border to hold cease-fire talks with the government.

A statement from the Karen National Union says its general secretary Zipporah Sein is leading the group's delegation for what will be a second round of talks starting Wednesday and ending next week.

The military-backed but elected government of President Thein Sein is seeking cease-fires with ethnic rebel groups as part of political reforms started last year after decades of repression under military rule.

The Karen National Union has been fighting for greater autonomy from Myanmar's central government since the country obtained independence from Britain in 1948.