Many killed in Myanmar violence

Many killed in Myanmar violence
Updated 13 June 2012
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Many killed in Myanmar violence

Many killed in Myanmar violence

Sittwe: Dozens of people have been killed in a surge in sectarian violence in Myanmar, an official said yesterday, as international pressure grew for an end to the bloodshed.
A state of emergency has been declared in western Rakhine state, which has been rocked by a wave of rioting and arson, posing a major test for the reformist government which took power last year.
"About 25 people have been killed during the unrest," a senior government official told AFP, requesting anonymity. He did not give details of how they died or whether they were Buddhists or Muslims.
A further 41 people were wounded in five days of unrest, he said.
The death toll does not include 10 Muslims who were killed on June 3 by a Buddhist mob in apparent revenge for the rape and murder of a woman, which sparked the violence in Rakhine.
Rights organizations fear the number of people killed could be much higher than the official figure. AFP reporters have been unable to visit many of the affected areas for security reasons. Gunfire rattled the state capital Sittwe yesterday and there was a heavy security presence, according to an AFP reporter. Plumes of smoke rose from fires dotted around the area.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh guards pushed back three more boats of Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar, as the UN refugee agency called for the border to be opened.
Patrol teams intercepted the boats of Rohingya people trying to enter Bangladesh on Monday night across the Naf river, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Major Shafiqur Rahman said.
"The three boats were carrying 103 Rohingya, including 81 women and children," he told AFP.
The boats were detained and later returned to Myanmar territory, he said, adding the BGB had turned away a total of 11 boats carrying more than 400 Rohingya since Monday.
"On these boats are women and children, and injured people," UNHCR representative Craig Sanders told AFP in Dhaka.
"We are appealing to the Bangladesh government to keep open its border and provide emergency and other humanitarian assistance."
Dozens of people have been killed in a surge in sectarian violence in Myanmar, a senior Myanmar government official said yesterday.

A state of emergency has been declared for Rakhine state, which borders Bangladesh, posing a major test for the reformist government which took power last year.
"It's a major setback for the Rohingya refugees and the people of Myanmar and Bangladesh," Sanders said. "Our first task is to ask Bangladesh to provide them safe passage, humanitarian and medical needs."