Southeast Asian leaders kept silent over accusations of ethnic cleansing carried out by Myanmar’s army in a statement on Thursday, instead expressing support for the country’s efforts to bring peace and harmony to northern Rakhine state. More than 6,00,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled mainly Buddhist Myanmar since a military crackdown was launched in Rakhine in August, which the United Nations and watchdogs have said amounts to ethnic cleansing. Rights groups had urged the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a strong stand on the crisis in its summit in Manila this week.