Nearly 400 people have died in northwest Myanmar violence

Hundreds have died in Myanmar following clashes between the Rohingya Muslim minority and the country’s army

Nearly 400 people have died in northwest Myanmar, making it one of the deadliest bouts of violence to engulf the country’s Rohingya Muslim minority in decades.

About 38,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar, UN sources said on Friday, a week after Rohingya insurgents attacked police posts and an army base in Rakhine state, prompting clashes and a military counteroffensive.

The army says it is conducting clearance operations against ‘extremist terrorists’ and security forces have been told to protect civilians.

But Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh claim a campaign of arson and killings aims to force them out.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is ‘deeply concerned’ by reports of the use of excessive force during the army’s operations in Rakhine state, spokeswoman Eri Kaneko said.

Source: At least 350 killed in Myanmar violence