Suu Kyi accuses Rohingya fighters of using child soldiers

Sectarian strife: Firemen arriving to extinguish house fires set off by Rohingya militants in the Maungdaw township of Rakhine State. — AFP

Yangon: Aung San Suu Kyi has accused Rohingya fighters of burning down homes and using child soldiers during a recent surge in violence in troubled Rakhine State, allegations denied by the militants themselves.

The impoverished western state neighbouring Bangladesh 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.