缅甸佛教徒与穆斯林再起冲突至少20人丧生

A third day of deadly Buddhist-Muslim violence has broken out in central Burma, as a leading rights group warned of spreading ethnic tension.

Witnesses reported charred bodies lying in the streets Friday, and say flames continue to pour from several buildings, including mosques, in the town of Meikhtila.

Local lawmakers say at least 20 people have been killed in the clashes, which began Wednesday following an argument between a customer and the Muslim owner of a gold shop.

Authorities have imposed a nighttime curfew and many residents say they are afraid to leave their homes, leaving the city largely deserted except for angry mobs roaming the streets.

The United States and United Nations have called for an end to the violence, Burma's worst sectarian unrest since last year's clashes between Buddhists and ethnic Rohingya Muslims in western Rakhine state.