UN Security Council condemns excessive violence in Myanmar

The United Nations Security Council expressed deep concern on Wednesday about violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state, where about 400,000 Rohingya Muslims have been forced to flee to Bangladesh.

Rohingya Refugees walk towards the shore of Naf river as people arrive by boats, in Teknaf, Bangladesh Source: AAP

In a statement, the 15-member council "expressed concern about reports of excessive violence during the security operations and called for immediate steps to end the violence in Rakhine, de-escalate the situation, re-establish law and order, ensure the protection of civilians."

British UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said it was the first time in nine years the council had agreed a statement on Myanmar.

UN's Guterres calls on Myanmar to end military action, violence

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called on Myanmar authorities to suspend military action and end violence against the majority-Buddhist nation's Rohingya Muslims, saying the crisis was destabilizing the region.

Guterres told a news conference that the humanitarian situation was "catastrophic" and called on all countries to supply aid.