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| Burma faces more unrest in Rakhine state | Burma faces more unrest in Rakhine state |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Gunshots have been heard and buildings set on fire in an area affected by deadly violence between Buddhists and Muslims in western Burma, reports say. | Gunshots have been heard and buildings set on fire in an area affected by deadly violence between Buddhists and Muslims in western Burma, reports say. |
| Most of the Muslim residents in the affected areas of Rakhine state are also being relocated, eyewitnesses say. | Most of the Muslim residents in the affected areas of Rakhine state are also being relocated, eyewitnesses say. |
| At least seven people have been killed since Friday, but one report puts the number of dead at 25. | At least seven people have been killed since Friday, but one report puts the number of dead at 25. |
| President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency there late on Sunday night. | President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency there late on Sunday night. |
| Violence flared after the murder of a Buddhist woman last month, followed by an attack on a bus carrying Muslims. | Violence flared after the murder of a Buddhist woman last month, followed by an attack on a bus carrying Muslims. |
| According to reports, it began on Friday in the town of Maungdaw, spreading to state capital Sittwe and neighbouring villages. | According to reports, it began on Friday in the town of Maungdaw, spreading to state capital Sittwe and neighbouring villages. |
| An unnamed official who spoke to news agency Agence-France Presse said at least 25 have died since, but did not provide further details. | An unnamed official who spoke to news agency Agence-France Presse said at least 25 have died since, but did not provide further details. |
| "Smoke is billowing from many directions and we are scared," Ma Thein, a Rakhine resident in Sittwe, told news agency the Associated Press. | "Smoke is billowing from many directions and we are scared," Ma Thein, a Rakhine resident in Sittwe, told news agency the Associated Press. |
| "The government should send in more security forces to protect both communities." | "The government should send in more security forces to protect both communities." |
| Security presence | Security presence |
| Rakhine state is named after the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist majority, but also has a sizeable Muslim population, including the Rohingyas. | Rakhine state is named after the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist majority, but also has a sizeable Muslim population, including the Rohingyas. |
| The Rohingyas are a Muslim group and are stateless, as Burma considers them to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. | The Rohingyas are a Muslim group and are stateless, as Burma considers them to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. |
| Neighbouring Bangladesh has increased its security presence on the border amid fears of an exodus. | Neighbouring Bangladesh has increased its security presence on the border amid fears of an exodus. |
| The Border Guard Bangladesh force on Monday said it had turned away a number of boats carrying refugees. Reports of the number of people ranged from 50 to 300. | The Border Guard Bangladesh force on Monday said it had turned away a number of boats carrying refugees. Reports of the number of people ranged from 50 to 300. |
| Activists have criticised Burma's government for imposing a state of emergency, which paves the way for troops to take control of the western state. | Activists have criticised Burma's government for imposing a state of emergency, which paves the way for troops to take control of the western state. |
| The pressure group Human Rights Watch has accused the Burmese government of, in effect, handing over control of Rakhine state to the military, which it says has a history of brutality against both Buddhists and Muslims. | The pressure group Human Rights Watch has accused the Burmese government of, in effect, handing over control of Rakhine state to the military, which it says has a history of brutality against both Buddhists and Muslims. |
| Activists have asked that journalists, aid workers and diplomats be allowed into the area. | Activists have asked that journalists, aid workers and diplomats be allowed into the area. |
| A nominally civilian government was elected in Burma in 2010 and, in April this year, opposition politicians led by Aung San Suu Kyi entered Burma's parliament following historic by-elections. | A nominally civilian government was elected in Burma in 2010 and, in April this year, opposition politicians led by Aung San Suu Kyi entered Burma's parliament following historic by-elections. |
| However, the government is still dominated by the military and concerns over political repression and human rights abuses continue. | However, the government is still dominated by the military and concerns over political repression and human rights abuses continue. |