Emergency declared in western Myanmar amid communal clashes | WPN World People News

A strict curfew has been imposed in parts of western Myanmar under the state of emergency following deadly clashes between Buddhists and minority Muslims.

According to media reports, some 17 people have been killed in the worst fighting in years between Buddhists and minority Muslims in western Rakhine state.

Charred remains of houses as well as troops outside monasteries and mosques were seen in Sittwe, the capital of troubled Rakhine state, according to Mizzima news agency.

Soldiers patrolled tense streets in a riot-hit state in western Myanmar while several military trucks were at the city's airport.

"There was tight security at Sittwe airport with two airforce jet fighters and military personnel on standby," the news agency said.

President Thein Sein appeared on national television to appeal for calm and signed an emergency order, effectively allowing the military to take over administrative functions for the coastal state that borders Bangladesh.

This is the first emergency order Sein signed since his nominally civilian government came to power in March last year after decades of harsh military rule.

Media reports said the violence was sparked off a week ago after a rape and murder of a Buddhist woman. An angry mob mistakenly believing the perpetrators of the rape were on board a bus, beat 10 Muslim passengers to death.

State owned media reported that at least 500 houses and other buildings were razed as the unrest spread with mob and revenge attacks.

However, Mizzima citing a report said 5,000 people have been made homeless.

Rakhine is predominantly a home to the Buddhist ethnic group that has given the name to the state. But it also houses a large Muslim population, including the Rohingya, a stateless people described by the UN as one of the world's most persecuted minorities.

Source: Southeast Asia News.Net