Burma communal deaths climb to 40

BBC News

March 26, 2013

The death toll from communal violence in central Burma has risen to 40, state media say, amid reports of more unrest. 

Soldiers clearing debris from buildings torched by angry mobs retrieved eight more bodies in Meiktila town, says the New Light of Myanmar newspaper. 

This comes amid reports of attacks on a mosque and Muslim shops in Bago region, north of the city of Rangoon. 

The US has warned its citizens to avoid travel to parts of Burma due to the violence, which began a week ago. 

An argument at a gold shop reportedly sparked riots between Buddhists and Muslims in Meiktila in Mandalay region last Wednesday, displacing at least 9,000 residents. 

The government has sent security forces to the area and on Monday issued a renewed call to end "religious extremism". 

In a statement on Monday, the US embassy in Rangoon advised US citizens "to avoid travel to the Mandalay region because of escalating violence in that area". 

Reports of other attacks on mosques and houses were reported on Monday in towns near Meiktila - Oh the Kone, Tatkone and Yamenthin. 

It was not immediately clear who was behind the violence. Details of any casualties in these areas were also unclear. 

The conflict is the worst since violence in Rakhine state last year, where nearly 200 people were killed and tens of thousands forced from their homes. 

The conflict that erupted in Rakhine involved Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, who are not recognised as Burmese citizens. Scores of Rohingyas have fled what they say is persecution in Burma in recent months.