October 24, 2012 - 15:43 AMT
Myanmar imposed night-time curfew in towns

Authorities in Myanmar imposed a night-time curfew in at least two towns in northwestern Rakhine state after renewed deadly unrest between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas in an area where more than 80 people were killed in June, Reuters reported.

The earlier violence was a setback for a quasi-civilian government that has won international plaudits for its political and economic reforms since President Thein Sein took office in March 2011, ending almost 50 years of brutal military rule.

Official media said on Wednesday, Oct 24, that two people had been killed and eight injured in the violence since Sunday, while 1,039 homes had been burned down. Unconfirmed reports from other sources put the death toll higher.

Up to 800,000 Rohingyas live in abject conditions along Myanmar's border with Bangladesh. Neither country recognizes them as citizens and the Bangladeshi authorities turned away boatloads of Rohingyas fleeing the violence in June.