WASHINGTON —
The United States is calling for Myanmar to do more to stem violence in western
Rakhine state where dozens of people have been killed in clashes with
government troops.
State
Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said Tuesday that a U.S. delegation
holding previously scheduled talks in Myanmar urged the government to
"improve transparency."
The U.S.
also repeated its call for an independent investigation and humanitarian
access.
Tensions
have been high in Rakhine since fighting in 2012 between Buddhists and Rohingya
Muslims. Last month, nine police were killed in attacks on guard posts blamed
on Muslim insurgents, prompting a government crackdown. Human rights groups
have accused government forces of burning down Rohingya villages.
The violence
and persecution of Rohingya threatens to overshadow Myanmar's historic
transition to civilian rule.