SITTWE, Myanmar: The toll from a wave of unrest in western Myanmar has reached 82, a government official said Saturday, after fierce fighting that has seen whole districts torched and forced thousands to flee.
Violence that broke out this week between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine state has killed 36 women and 46 men, according to a government official who asked to remain anonymous.
"Altogether 82 people died and 129 people were injured," he told AFP.
The new fighting, which began on October 21, has prompted international warnings that the nation's reforms could be under threat.
Tens of thousands of mainly Muslim Rohingya are already crammed into squalid camps around the state capital Sittwe after deadly violence in June and Rakhine state officials said the latest bloodshed had caused an influx of boats carrying around 6,000 people to the city. (AFP)
