Death toll from unrest in western Myanmar rises to 84
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Yangon - The death toll from last week's sectarian violence between Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim communities in western Myanmar has reached 84 with 129 injured, state media reported Monday.
The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said 2,950 houses, 14 religious buildings and eight rice mills were burned down.
An earlier official estimate set the death toll at 67 while residents and a Muslim party leader in the state capital, Sittwe, about 500 kilometres north-west of Yangon, had placed it at more than 100.
Last week's unrest was reportedly sparked by protests against a lack of access to food and international aid in the state's northern townships, which have been under curfews since June.
Tens of thousands have been displaced since sectarian violence broke out that month after a Buddhist woman was allegedly raped and murdered by three members of the Rohingya Muslim community.
Monday's newspaper report said authorities have taken "legal action" against 1,058 people since the start of the clashes.
Ashok Nigam, humanitarian coordinator for the United Nations, said at least 22,500 people had been displaced and over 4,600 houses burnt in last week's violence, which was concentrated in the three northern townships of the Rakhine, after visiting the area at the weekend.
There are already an estimated 75,000 people living in refugee camps as a result of June's clashes, which left up to 90 dead.//DPA
