Fire at Islamic school kills 13 children in Yangon

YANGON :An electrical fire at an Islamic school in Myanmar's biggest city killed 13 children early on Tuesday, authorities said.

The children, all boys, died of suffocation in the fire at a dormitory of a school next to a mosque in Yangon at about 2.40am local time, neighbours and officials said.

"A total of 13 boys were killed in the fire caused by overheating of a transformer. They died of suffocation after inhaling too much smoke," a Central Fire Service duty officer said.

Myanmar unrest 'harms country's image': President

YANGON :Communal conflict in Myanmar "tarnished" the country's world image, President Thein Sein said on Sunday, in the wake of violence targeting Muslims that saw dozens killed and sparked international concern.

A wave of violence that began on March 20 saw mosques and homes burned in several towns in central Myanmar, leaving at least 43 dead and prompting the government to impose emergency rule and curfews in some areas.

US 'deeply concerned' over deadly Myanmar riots: Embassy

YANGON :The United States is "deeply concerned" about reports of deadly communal unrest in central Myanmar, its embassy in Yangon said on Thursday.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and property in the violence," Ambassador Derek Mitchell said in a statement, adding that the US embassy was closely monitoring events.