Tillerson telephones Myanmar Army Chief

Washington, Oct. 27: Expressing concern over the "humanitarian crisis" in Myanmar, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson has urged the country's Army Chief to help the government end violence in the northern Rakhine state where unrest has forced over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh.

In a telephone call on Thursday with Myanmar's Armed Forces Commander-inChief General Min Aung Hlaing, Mr Tillerson "concern about the continuing humanitarian crisis and reported atrocities in Rakhine".

He sought the support of the Army Chief for ending the violence and allowing the safe return home of those displaced during the violence, especially the large numbers of ethnic Rohingyas, state department spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

"At the same time, he urged the military to facilitate humanitarian aid for displaced people in affected areas, allow media access, and cooperate with the United Nations to ensure a thorough, independent investigation into all allegations of human rights abuses and violations and to ensure accountability," Ms Nauert said in a statement.

Mr Tillerson also condemned the August 25 deadly attacks by militants on security forces in the Rakhine State, she said.

Militant attacks on Myanmar security forces sparked a major Army crackdown on the community which was forced to escape violence.