Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi put under arrest after violent clash.

(From Agence France Presse)

Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been put under temporary arrest in the country's north after a violent clash between her supporters and a pro-junta group which left four dead, the junta said.

"Aung San Suu Kyi has been temporarily placed under the protection of local authorities," military spokesman Brigadier General Than Tun told reporters, adding that her entourage was also taken to the safe house and put in "protective custody."

Than Tun said eight motor vehicles and nine motorcycles were destroyed in the melee, which broke out in the town of Ye U in Sagaing division on Friday night at 8:00 pm (1330 GMT) and continued for three hours.

"Four persons died during the scuffle and 50 were injured," Than Tun said. The four were killed in a car accident during the scuffle, he said, but did not specify which group they belonged to.

Aung San Suu Kyi was on a month-long political tour of Myanmar's north, which became increasingly tense as her supporters repeatedly clashed with members of the junta-sponsored Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA).

Than Tun accused NLD members of setting fire to at least one of the vehicles used by the USDA. Some 5,000 members of the pro-junta group had been waiting in Ye U for the NLD party to arrive Friday.