October 22, 2001	Monday	Shaba'an 4, 1422

YANGON, Oct 21: Myanmar’s military government has imposed curfews in several northern towns following clashes between Muslims, Buddhists and state riot police in recent weeks, a government official said on Sunday.

Long-standing tension between some members of the Muslim and Buddhist communities intensified on October 8 after a local religious dispute in Myanmar’s Bago district touched off conflicts in neighbouring towns.

Officials say a clash ensued between Muslims and Buddhist monks in Prome, also known as Pyay, over a rumour that a Buddhist woman who eloped with a Muslim man had been forced to convert to Islam.

Myanmar riot police intervened as Buddhist monks reportedly tried to ransack a Muslim-owned pharmacy, the spokesman said, adding that no one was hurt in the melee.

“In Pyay on October 8 and 9 there was a quarrel between religions due to some rumours fabricated by unsavoury elements to deliberately create misunderstanding between religions,” the spokesman said in a statement.

“The local authorities together with leaders of both religions in Bago swiftly worked together to bring the situation back to normal and a precautionary curfew has been imposed.”

The historically volatile towns are home to devout Buddhists and Muslims alike.—AFP