Burma-Myanmar: Security forces fire on fleeing Rohingya
Myanmar security forces fired mortars and machine guns at terrified Rohingya villagers fleeing northern Rakhine state for Bangladesh on Saturday, according to an AFP reporter and a border official at the scene, as clashes which have killed scores continued for a second day.
The fighting, concentrated around remote border villages, is between suspected Rohingya militants and Myanmar security forces, but is increasingly sweeping in civilians—from the Muslim minority as well as local Buddhists and Hindus.
Rakhine state has become a crucible of religious hatred focused on the stateless Rohingya Muslim minority, who are reviled and perceived as illegal immigrants in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.
Violence has left at least 92 dead since Friday, according to an official toll, and forced thousands of Rohingya to flee towards Bangladesh.