Over dozen houses burnt down in renewed violence in Myanmar western state

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At least 14 houses in a village among others have been burnt down in renewed violence in Thandwe, Myanmar's western Rakhine state, over the last three days, official media reported Thursday.

A group of mob intercepted three motorcycles and attacked the people on board on the Thandwe-Taunggup road on Tuesday, leaving four injured and one still missing.

Houses in other villages and a refilling station were also set on fire by the rioters.

Police had to disperse mobs by firing warning shots as fighting between the two sides erupted.

Myanmar government, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said a verbal dispute among local people over a car parking space sparked the riot on Sunday night in Thandwe, confirming that the incident left some casualties on both sides and some houses destroyed.

However, the total casualties are yet to be officially disclosed.

Local sources said five people died in the incident with about 100 houses set ablaze.

The violence broke out shortly before Myanmar President U Thein Sein made an inspection tour to the Rakhine state since Tuesday covering the areas of Mrauk U, Kyauktaw, Maumgtaw, Sittway and Kyaukpyu.

The president was saddened by the violence, the government statement said, adding that the loss due to the violence is not only suffered by the Rakhine state but also the country.

The statement urged prompt actions on the rioters of the violence and called for people to cooperate for efforts to avoid recurrence of conflicts and rebuild the riot-torn houses.

Myanmar authorities have extended the already-imposed curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting Tuesday evening.

Curfew had been in place in Thandwe since June 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. after a communal violence broke out.

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