Fierce clashes reported in Myanmar

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s government on Sunday reported fierce fighting in the western state of Rakhine, where the army has been conducting counterinsurgency operations since nine police officers were killed in attacks on posts along the border with Bangladesh last month.

The fighting, reported in an Information Ministry statement, comes as human rights groups have been accusing Myanmar’s army of abuses against civilians of the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority, especially since last month’s attacks.

On Friday, the U.N.’s special representative on sexual violence in conflict called on Myanmar to investigate allegations of sexual assault in northern Rakhine state.