MP 'beaten to death' in Burma

MAE SOT (Reuter) - Soldiers in Burma beat a Muslim MP to death after he refused to try to persuade fellow Muslims taking refuge in Bangladesh to return home, it was claimed yesterday.

Burmese Muslim sources said that troops ordered Mohamed Ilyas, an MP representing Maungdaw, and four other MPs, to cross into Bangladesh and try to persuade Burmese Muslim refugees to return home. When they refused, the soldiers arrested and beat the MPs, killing Ilyas. Almost 300,000 Burmese Muslims have fled since last year, alleging army persecution.