Muslims, Buddhists engage in 'fiery violence' in Burma

Muslims and Buddhists in Burma have clashed over the burning of a mosque and some shops owned by Muslims.

The incident took place in Lashio, the capital of Burma's northeastern Shan state, after claims spread that a Muslim man had doused a Buddhist woman with fuel and set her on fire at a petrol station, the BBC reports.

According to the report, Burma has seen a number of clashes between the two religious communities in recent months.

The report said that though the extent of the violence is still not clear, but it originated when police refused to hand over the man accused of setting the Buddhist woman ablaze.

A curfew has been set in the town according to the residents, while a police official maintains that fires have been put out at some places in the town and the situation is under control.

At least 43 people, majority being Muslims, died in the clashes that erupted after an argument at a Muslim-owned shop in the central town of Meiktila in March, but no Buddhists have been convicted over the incident as yet.