UN Reports More than 40 Muslims Killed by Buddhists in Myanmar

Country disputes the report

The United Nations says more than 40 Muslims were killed when a Buddhist mob stormed a village in an isolated corner of western Myanmar last week, hunting down residents with knives and machetes, officials said Thursday. They said others are missing and feared dead.

Details about a U.N. investigation of the incident were presented in background briefings with U.S. Embassy staff, humanitarian aid workers and others, the officials said on condition of anonymity because the information had not been officially released.

Myanmar's government has vehemently denied reports of a massacre.

Presidential spokesman Ye Htut said Thursday that he "strongly objects" to the U.N. claims.