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| Mosques and houses belonging to Muslims have been destroyed in the violence |
BBC News
Burmese President Thein Sein has warned that he will if necessary use
force to stop "political opportunists and religious extremists" from
fomenting hatred between faiths.
It was his first public comment on the violence, which began last week.
At least 40 people have been killed as a result of discord between Buddhists and Muslims since 20 March.
On Tuesday curfews were imposed on three towns as attacks on Muslim communities got closer to Rangoon.
"I would like to warn all political opportunists and religious
extremists who try to exploit the noble teachings of these religions and
have tried to plant hatred among people of different faiths for their
own self-interest. Their efforts will not be tolerated," the president
said in a national televised address.
'Last resort'
"In general, I do not endorse the use of force to solve problems.
However, I will not hesitate to use force as a last resort to protect
the lives and safeguard the property of the general public," he said.
"All perpetrators of violence will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
The president said that "conflicts and difficulties" would inevitably arise during Burma's transition to a democracy.
He called on police to "perform their duties decisively, bravely and within the constraints of the constitution and by-laws".
Correspondents say that police in the central town of Meiktila in
Mandalay region - where the communal violence began last week - have
been criticised for failing to act quickly enough to stop the rioting,
in which houses, shops and mosques were burned down. The trouble broke
out after a reported argument at a gold shop.
Violence last week also broke out in the Bago region north of Rangoon,
with Muslim religious buildings, shops and houses being damaged.
At least 12,000 Muslims are thought to have fled their homes because of the unrest.
In similar violence in Rakhine state last year, nearly 200 people were killed and tens of thousands forced from their homes.
The conflict that erupted in Rakhine involved Buddhists and Rohingya
Muslims, who are not recognised as Burmese citizens and have complained
of frequent persecution.
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