Countries named include Russia, China, Singapore, and India.

Those who re-offend will have to serve the remainder of their sentence with an additional penalty.

Thailand's election, on May 14, is shaping up as a contest between pro-military conservatives and the populist opposition led by Pheu Thai Party and its ally the Move Forward Party.

The military-led government has jailed thousands of opponents and pro-democracy activists since it seized power in 2021 and brutally put down protests, drawing global condemnation.

The death toll from the early morning strike on the remote Kanbalu township in Sagaing region is unclear although at least 50 fatalities have been reported.

The clashes broke out when rebels in the southern Karen state attacked a military border guard outpost, according to reports.

The hugely popular Nobel laureate Suu Kyi is among scores of members jailed since the coup and is serving 33 years for multiple counts of corruption, a breach of a state secrets law and incitement, among other crimes.

A spokesman for Myanmar's junta says its troops had been involved in clashes with rebel fighters in the Pinlaung region of southern Shan state but had not harmed any civilians.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since a 2021 coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government, and a subsequent crackdown on dissent has sparked fighting across swathes of the nation.

The state of emergency was due to expire at the end of January and the military had been widely expected to announce on Wednesday that it would prepare for the polls.

Western powers launched a fresh broadside of sanctions against the generals on the anniversary, but previous rounds have shown little sign of throwing the junta off course.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military toppled democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government almost two years ago, alleging massive fraud during elections her party won in 2020.