Myanmar dismisses talks on ethnic violence

Myanmar has shot down the possibility to openly discuss how to end deadly communal violence.

In a report by Al-Jazeera, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations proposed to have the talks with the UN and Myanmar's government this past Tuesday.

Instead, Myanmar's government turned down the offer to discuss the violence in western Rakhine state that has led to 180 deaths since June.

The battle has pitted Buddhists against the minority Rohingya Muslims. Fresh fighting this month has resulted in 88 people being killed and thousands more have fled.

The UN has considered the Rohingya Muslims as the world's most persecuted minorities.