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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Burma: State of emergency imposed in Meiktila | Burma: State of emergency imposed in Meiktila |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A state of emergency has been imposed in the Burmese town of Meiktila following three days of communal violence between Buddhists and Muslims. | A state of emergency has been imposed in the Burmese town of Meiktila following three days of communal violence between Buddhists and Muslims. |
| A statement announcing the decision on behalf of President Thein Sein was broadcast on state television. | A statement announcing the decision on behalf of President Thein Sein was broadcast on state television. |
| He said that the move would enable the military to help restore order in the riot-hit town, south of Mandalay. | He said that the move would enable the military to help restore order in the riot-hit town, south of Mandalay. |
| At least 20 people are reported to have been killed since the violence began, but exact figures are unclear. | At least 20 people are reported to have been killed since the violence began, but exact figures are unclear. |
| Meiktila MP Win told the BBC Burmese service that scores of mostly Buddhist people accused of being involved in the violence had been arrested by police. | |
| He said that he saw the bodies of eight people who had been killed in violence in the town on Friday morning. Many Muslims had fled gangs of Buddhist youths, he said, while other Muslims were in hiding. | |
| Mr Win Thein said that that violence that recurred on Friday morning has now receded, although the atmosphere in Meiktila remains tense. | |
| Police say that at least 15 Buddhist monks on Friday burnt down a house belonging to a Muslim family on the outskirts of the town. There are no reports of any injuries. | |
| The disturbances began on Wednesday when an argument in a gold shop escalated quickly, with mobs setting mainly Muslim buildings alight, including some mosques. | The disturbances began on Wednesday when an argument in a gold shop escalated quickly, with mobs setting mainly Muslim buildings alight, including some mosques. |
| Fighting in the streets between men from rival communities later broke out. | Fighting in the streets between men from rival communities later broke out. |
| Meanwhile people in the town have told the BBC of food shortages because the main market in the town has been closed for the last five days. | Meanwhile people in the town have told the BBC of food shortages because the main market in the town has been closed for the last five days. |
| The violence is the most serious communal clash in Burma since almost 200 people were killed last year in unrest in the western state of Rakhine. | |
| 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. | |
| A local official in Meiktila said earlier this week that relations between Muslims and the Buddhist majority in the town had been strained by the violence in Rakhine. | |
| Residents in the town have complained that police have struggled to control groups of people on the streets armed with knives and sticks. | |
| Most of these men are Buddhists, police say, angered over the death of a Buddhist monk who suffered severe burns on Wednesday. |