At least 10 people have been killed in riots in central Myanmar, a local MP said on Thursday, provoking US concern at the worst communal violence since Buddhist-Muslim clashes in western Rakhine State last year.
The United States said it was “deeply concerned” by the latest unrest, which according to police erupted on Wednesday after an argument in a Muslim-owned gold shop intensified and caused about 200 people to clash on the streets.
Win Htein, a member of the opposition National league for Democracy (NlD) party, said he had seen bodies at the scene of fresh fighting in the town of Meiktila on Thursday.
“More than 10 people were killed,” he told AFP by telephone from the town, which is his constituency seat.
Police have so far confirmed that two people died — including a Buddhist monk —after sustaining severe burns in Wednesday’s fighting, while several mosques were also torched by angry mobs.
A curfew was put in place overnight. A local resident, who asked not to be named, said he had seen “many dead bodies”.
In a brief statement, the US Embassy said it was closely monitoring events.
“I am deeply concerned about reports of violence and widespread property damage,” Ambassador Derek Mitchell said.