UN chief urges peaceful, credible census in Myanmar

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged a peaceful and credible national census in Myanmar after the attack on UN and other aid group offices there last week, UN spokesperson's office said Monday.

The UN chief asked the Myanmar government "to uphold its obligations toward the safety and security of all staff members and ensure protection of property in accordance with relevant agreements" over a telephone call with Myanmar President U Thein Sein Sunday, Xinhua reported.

He also stressed that impunity cannot be tolerated in the context of Myanmar's reform process and called for the protection of all civilians and the full respect for the rule of law.

In Sittway, Rakhine state of western Myanmar, a number of offices of international aid groups, including those of UN agencies, were stoned and attacked by hundreds of unidentified local ethnic Rakhine demonstrators Wednesday and Thursday, said Myanmar media reports.

Myanmar's national census, the first in three decades, started Sunday to collect data for current population, economic and social facts and figures. The 12-day National Population and Housing Census, aimed at working out national development plan, will last until April 10.