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Burma mobs 'kill 30 Rohingyas' Burma violence: UN calls for Rohingya deaths inquiry
(about 1 hour later)
More than 30 Rohingya Muslims were killed in attacks by Buddhists last week in Burma's Rakhine state, the BBC has been told. The UN human rights chief has called on Burma to investigate reports that dozens of Rohingya Muslims have been killed in attacks by Buddhists in Rakhine state.
Foreign officials who had managed to access the area in the far west of the country told the BBC they had found evidence of a mass killing. In a statement, Navi Pillay said a "full, prompt and impartial investigation" was needed.
Human rights group Fortify Rights claims a series of attacks took place over five days last week. The UN had "credible information" that 48 Rohingya Muslims had been killed in violence in early January.
The government and local officials have strongly denied claims of a massacre. Presidential spokesman Ye Htut said he "strongly objects" to the UN claims.
Revenge attacks The facts and figures were "totally wrong", the Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying.
The latest development follows reports of clashes between Rohingyas and the police in the Maungdaw township over the past month. Rakhine state - in the west of Burma, which is also known as Myanmar - has seen several outbreaks of violence targeting the Rohingya Muslims since June 2012.
It is thought tensions initially arose amid reports that several Rohingyas had been killed trying to flee over the border into Bangladesh. 'Receive justice'
Things escalated after a local policeman was reported missing, presumed killed. In the statement, the UN said eight Rohingya Muslim men were attacked at Du Char Yar Tan village on 9 January.
Local Rakhine Buddhists aided by the security forces are then reported to have taken part in bloody revenge attacks in and around the village of Du Char Yar Tan. On 13 January, a police official was killed in the same village by Rohingya Muslims.
The death toll of 30 is thought to be a conservative estimate, says the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Burma, which is also known as Myanmar. This triggered the killings of at least 40 Rohingya men, women and children by local security forces and Rakhine people, the UN statement added.
Some reports say as many as 70 people - including women and children - were killed. "I deplore the loss of life ... and call on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation and ensure that victims and their families receive justice,'' Ms Pillay said.
The UN's humanitarian chief Valerie Amos has called on the government to allow aid workers into the area and to "immediately launch an impartial investigation" into the events. "By responding to these incidents quickly and decisively, the government has an opportunity to show transparency and accountability, which will strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar.''
The Rohingya people are considered stateless and are rejected by both Burma and neighbouring Bangladesh, our correspondent says. The Rohingya people are considered stateless and are rejected by both Burma and neighbouring Bangladesh.
At least 200 people were killed in fierce clashes between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Rakhine state in 2012.At least 200 people were killed in fierce clashes between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Rakhine state in 2012.
Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims remain displaced in the wake of that violence, many still living in camps.Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims remain displaced in the wake of that violence, many still living in camps.
Sporadic outbreaks of anti-Muslim violence continued throughout 2013 in other parts of Burma as well.Sporadic outbreaks of anti-Muslim violence continued throughout 2013 in other parts of Burma as well.