Myanmar Crisis: Asean chair warns over rising violence

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is gravely concerned about escalating violence in Myanmar, the bloc's chair Cambodia said, in remarks ahead of a special meeting of its foreign ministers today to discuss the crisis.

"We are deeply saddened by the growing casualties, and the immense suffering that ordinary people in Myanmar have endured," the chair's statement said, calling for restraint, an immediate cessation of fighting, and for all parties to pursue dialogue.

A spokesperson for the Cambodian foreign ministry said Myanmar would not be participating in today's meeting at the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta.

The gathering aims to come up with recommendations on how to push forward the peace process ahead of an Asean summit next month.