US charge d'affaires urges dialogue in Myanmar's Rakhine State
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Yangon - The US charge d'affaires to Myanmar on Friday urged all sides involved in sectarian fighting in the west of the country to seek a dialogue after at least 31 were killed this month.
"The most important thing now is that all sides remain calm," said Michael Thurston, after he met with representatives of local Muslim organisations and the Rakhine National Development Party in the former capital Yangon.
"Further dialogue is needed. And dialogue can only occur when there is calm," he said.
Tit-for-tat clashes between Muslims and Buddhists have left an estimated 31 people dead, sparked by the alleged rape and murder of a Buddhist women by three Rohingya Muslims on May 28.
Unofficial sources say the death toll could be much higher, but reports could not be verified due to the absence of international aid workers or observers in the area.
The United Nations pulled their 40 staff out from Rakhine's state capital Sittwe on June 11.//DPA
