There has been sporadic fighting for a second consecutive day in the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur, between separatist militants and guards of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).

The fighting follows a battle on Wednesday in which, the BSF says, three rebels and four border guards were killed.

BSF officials say 700 of their troops launched an attack on a large rebel camp belonging to the Manipur People's Liberation Front in the state's Chandel district.

They say the rebels put up stiff resistance, and both sides used rockets, grenades and machine guns.

A rebel spokesman denied any casualties and said his group was holding the camp, although defences on two sides had been breached.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service