Myanmar opens emergency monitoring centre in riot-hit city

Yangon, July 11 (IANS) Myanmar authorities have opened an emergency monitoring centre in Mandalay, the country's second largest city that was hit by sectarian riots early this month, to enable the public to report incidents, state media reported Friday.

The emergency centre would coordinate with authorities concerned and carry out emergency tasks when such incidents take place, Xinhua reported citing the Mandalay Region Information and Public Relations.

The emergency centre will remain opened 24 hours, especially to be effective during the curfew.

Sectarian riots broke out in Mandalay July 1 over an alleged rape case in which two people died and 17 others injured.

In connection with the riots, 16 people have so far been charged.

Following the riots, all seven townships in Mandalay have been placed under curfew since July 3.

A total of 346 people were arrested for violation of curfew orders. Of them, 145 people have been released, and the remaining are still being held.

Myanmar President U Thein Sein has called on people to cooperate with the government in exposing instigators of the recent communal riots, saying the unrest was designed on purpose by a particular group to create hatred between two communities.

He praised Mandalay residents of different faiths for being able to stop the riots as Mandalay has a tradition of peaceful coexistence among residents of different religions.