Myanmar President U Thein Sein has formed a 10-member Central Management Committee for Emergency Period to tackle the current rioting in some places in the country, the President Office said in a statement on Sunday. The committee was established with Home Minister Lieutenant- General Ko Ko as its chairman.The committee is tasked with ensuring effective cooperation between the security forces and regional governments in making swift response to riots, preventing sectarian and religious riots.According to the police, 68 suspects linked with riots in townships in Mandalay and Bago west region had been arrested. In the riot, 43 people were killed and 86 others injured while 1,355 houses were destroyed and 39 vehicles burnt.The riots, which spread to 15 townships to date, left more than 11,000 people homeless.

Curfew has been imposed on the 15 townships to ensure peace and stability of the state and safeguard lives and property of the general public.