Death toll rises to 56 in renewed riot in Myanmar

At least 56 people including 31 women have been killed and 64 others injured in renewed sectarian riots which occurred in four townships in Myanmar's western Rakhine state over the past three days, local official sources confirmed on Thursday. During the riot, over 1,900 houses and eight other religious buildings were destroyed in arson fire in Myaebon, Mrauk U, Kyauk Phyu and Minbya townships. The communal riot also effected Kyaukphyu three days after it occurred in Minbya and Mrauk U last Sunday. The local authorities had imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time in Minbya and Mrauk U since Monday night as the riot escalated there. The government and local authorities have carried out with concerted efforts to keep the recent Rakhine incident under control by declaring a state of emergency and issuing curfew order, the state radio and television quoted an announcement of the President Office as reporting. The government warned that they will expose and take legal action against those who are manipulating behind the conflict, the announcement said. Rakhine state has been declared a state of emergency along with imposition of curfew in six prior townships -- Maungtaw, Buthidaung, Sittway, Thandwe, Kyaukphyu and Yanbye since June 10. The curfew was extended to Kyauktaw on Aug. 8 and then to Minbya and Mrauk U on Oct. 22 bringing the total number of townships under curfew to eight so far. During May-June incident in Rakhine state, altogether 50 people were killed, 54 people injured. A total of 2,230 houses, 14 religious buildings were burnt down, according to official figures of the President Office.