Authorities in western Myanmar have imposed new curfews to keep clashes between local Buddhists and Muslim Bengalis from escalating.

State television on Sunday announced a 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m curfew has been imposed in the Rakhine state capital of Sittwe and three other townships because of elements there acting unlawfully and causing disorder.

The move follows rioting on Friday in two other areas of Rakhine state that left at least seven people dead and 17 wounded. State media called the rioters terrorists, but residents' accounts made clear they were Muslims, apparently retaliating for the lynching of 10 Muslims by a crowd of 300 Buddhists. The lynch mob was angered by the recent rape of a Buddhist girl, allegedly by three Muslim men.

Source: The Associated Press.