U.S. Condemns Sectarian Violence In Myanmar

The U.S. government has condemned a recent massacre in Myanmar, amid hopes that the Southeast Asian nation can heal ethnic and sectarian divisions in the country as it seek to make further democratic reforms.

Last Sunday, a mob of angry Buddhists murdered 10 Muslims on a bus after believing they were responsible for the rape and killing of a Buddhist woman. The incident took place in Rakhine province, near the Bangladesh border, where Muslims are concentrated. In retaliation, four more people died when Muslims set fire to Buddhist villages.

We are deeply concerned about the reports that a mob killed 10 individual Muslim pilgrims, pulling them from a bus and beating them to death, said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

We're obviously saddened by this tragic loss of life. It speaks to the importance of the government and the minorities redoubling efforts on a peace process that includes a ceasefire and real negotiations.